Calvert of Maryland; a story of Lord Baltimore's colony

7 :■'

r,ct

-Cfi^W^

Af^

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2007 with funding from

IVIicrosoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/calvertofmarylanOOotis

N'

A

,■*<'

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

A STORY OF
LORD BALTIMORE'S COLONY

K:

BY
JAMES OTIS

NEW YORK •:• CINCINNATI •:• CHICAGjO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

THE NEW YORK

PUE-LIC LIBIIARY

937633A

ASTCPv, LEXCX A>,D

T^LDBN FCUXDATiONS

n 19o8 L

Copyright, 1910, by
JAMES OTIS KALER.

Entered at Stationers' Hall, London.

calvert of maryland
w. p. 3

FOREWORD

The purpose of this series of stories is to show the
children, and even those who have already taken up
the study of history, the home life of the colonists
with whom they meet in their books. To this end
every effort has been made to avoid anything savor-
ing of romance, and to deal only with facts, so far as
that is possible, while describing the daily life of those

J^ people who conquered the wilderness whether for con-

v\ science' sake or for gain.

V That the stories may appeal more directly to the
f^ children, they are told from the viewpoint of a child,

V and purport to have been related by a child. Should
^ any criticism be made regarding the seeming neglect
^v\.to mention important historical facts, the answer

would be that these books are not sent out as histories,
'^ — although it is believed that they will awaken a desire
§\ to learn more of the building of the nation, — and

only such incidents as would be particularly noted

by a child are used.

4 FOREWORD

Surely it is entertaining as well as instructive for
young people to read of the toil and privations in the
homes of those who came into a new world to build
up a country for themselves, and such homely facts
are not to be found in the real histories of our land.

JAMES OTIS.

CONTENTS

A Name to be Proud Of

Ready for Sea

The King's Gift

Why I AM One of the Adventurers

The Signal for Departure

A Lad's Portion

The Allotment of Land .

An Unexpected Delay

Our Arrival at Cowes .

We Put to Sea

The " Dove " Disappears

A Second Tempest . .

An Unseemly Christmas Celebration

The Port of Barbadoes .

The Arrival of the "Dove" .

Under Sail Again .

The Land of America

The Land Given by the King

Fear of the Brown Men

Where the City Would be Built

Taking Possession of the Island

A Voyage of Discovery .

Visiting the Indians

An Unexpected Meeting

Captain Fleet's Story

5

CONTENTS

A Visit from an Indian Werowance

Indian versus English Claims .

Seeking a New Place for the City

The Bargain .

The Village of Yaocomico

What the Indians Look Like

Indian Weapons and Tools

Landing the Goods

Counting Our Blessings

The Susquehanoughs

A Land of Abundance

Buying Cattle

Storehouse and Fort

A Visitor from Virginia

A Talk with the Indians

Running up the Colors .

Settling Down

Master William Claiborne

Lord Baltimore's Clalms .

Stirring up the Indians .

Winning Back the Indians

Busy Times

Indian Women as Servants

Making a Canoe

A Boat of Bark

Indian Money

A Generous Harvest

Trouble at Plymouth

A Strange Religious Service

The Dance Begins .

CONTENTS

An Odd Ceremony .

William Claiborne's War

The Settlement on Kent Island

We Prepare for War

The Army Leaves St. Mary's .

In Command of the Guard

A Flag of Truce

Captain Fleet Repents .

The First Prize of War

A Battle is Fought

The Return of the Fleet

William Claiborne's Flight

The City of St. Mary's .

A Cruel Murder

The Mystery Remains Unsolved

Master George Evelin .

A Fatal Accident .

Preparing for Action

Ready for a Man's Duty

I Wear the Uniform

My New Name

On Board the Pinnace

Indians in War Paint

The Arrival at Kent Island .

The Capture of the Fort

Butler and Smith Made Captives

Back to Claiborne's Fort

I am Assigned New Duties

A Narrow Escape .

Words of Praise

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

A NAME TO BE PROUD OF

Now that it is fully decided I am to journey with my

father to that far-away world called America, it seems

right I should set down, as far as may

be possible, all which befalls me from the

time we leave dear old England, and

then, if so be I never come back

from the wonderful adventure

because of having met death,

people will know there

was once an English lad,

by name Calvert, who,

much the same as taking

his life in his hands, went

overseas to the strange

country where, it is said,

none but savages dwell.

Yes, my name is Calvert, and I am proud of it because

it was given me by the first Lord Baltimore, near to

thirteen years ago, when he stood my godfather.

lo CALVERT OF MARYLAND

As of course you know, the family name of the Balti-
mores is Calvert, and the old lord was George of that
line ; but there are so many Georges in this world that
no one could have picked me out from a crowd simply
by hearing my name, whereas, when a person calls
another "Calvert," people prick up their ears, wonder-
ing whether it be one of the Baltimores who is addressed,
which is much to my liking.

The young lord, Cecilius, who has but lately come
into the title through the death of his father, is a near
friend of my father, and it was because of his fair words
and promises that I am waiting here in an inn near
the waterside of our goodly city of London, until word
shall be sent that I may go on board the ship Ark,
which lies at anchor close by.

Do you remember that in the year of grace, 1627,
Lord Baltimore — and I am now speaking of the old
lord, George Calvert — had a colony in that part of
America called Newfoundland, and that he visited it
in order to learn why the tenants were displeased with
the land? Well, it was in this selfsame ship Ark
that he journeyed.

■READY FOR SEA

And now tliat he is dead, and the colony known as
Avalon in Newfoundland has been abandoned, a

READY FOR SEA

II

number of gentlemen, among whom is my father, to-
gether with their servants, are to sail for a certain part
of the New World which is to be under the rule of Lord
Baltimore, and to be called Mary Land, in honor of
Henrietta Maria, who, as all people in the world know,
sits on the throne with our good King Charles I.

What is more, we are to journey in the old lord's ship
Ark, of near to three hundred tons burden, and in our com-
pany will be the Dove, a pinnace of fifty tons or more.

When I heard my father speak of the Dove as a pin-
nace, I was puzzled to understand what kind of vessel
she might be, for I am not versed in the ways of the sea,
nor accustomed to hearing sailors speak their peculiar
language.

ti CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Therefore it was I asked what kind of vessel a pin-
nace might be, and was told that any craft with two
masts, rigged like a schooner, but capable of being
propelled, in addition to her sails, by oars, was given
such a name.

The Dove, which is now at anchor near by the Ark,
seems a small ship to sail so far overseas as is America,
but John, who is my father's serving man, declares
that she will carry herself as well as does the Ark,
although, mayhap, give more of discomfort to those
who are on board, because of leaping about to a
greater degree on such enormous waves as are to be
found in the middle of the mighty ocean.

It may be well to set down here how it chanced that
my father, together with sixteen other gentlemen, had
any right to that new land of America of which many
Englishmen, some Dutchmen, and a few Swedes had
already taken possession.

THE king's gift

The first Lord Baltimore, meaning George Calvert,
in the year of grace, 1620, bought for himself a planta-
tion on the island of Newfoundland, in America, and,
naming it Avalon, sent there sixty or seventy laboring
men and their wives to build up for him a town ; but
it was found to be a cruel country for weather, being

THE KING'S GIFT 13

biting cold a goodly portion of the year, and the old
lord brought all his people back to England in the
Ark and the Dove lest they die of homesickness, frost,
and starvation.

When King Charles, who had a great love for the
old lord, heard that he had failed of settling a colony
in Newfoundland, and had thereby wasted a goodly
portion of his money, he gave him as a free gift a certain
lot of land which was supposed to be situated north of
the Virginia colony, and westward from the settlements
at Plymouth and Boston.

Being only a lad, and not accustomed to such mat-
ters as the building up of a new world, it seemed
strange to me that the king did not know how much
land he laid claim to, and where it was located ; but I
afterward came to understand that no one in England
had any idea as to how large was this country in which
the brown-skinned men lived. Therefore it was that
the bounds of our Province of Maryland were changed
no less than three times before they were finally settled
to the pleasure of our governor and the people of
Virginia. Even then, so John declared, we did not
really know how far to the northward our grant
extended.

Because of all T have heard spoken between my
father and his friends, I doubt if any man knew just how
much land the king really gave to the old lord; but

14 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

certain it is there must be an enormous extent, for it
is proposed to build many towns and cities in such
part of the New World as belongs to my Lord Baltimore.

Well, as is well known, the old lord died before he
could take any steps toward gaining benefit by the king's
gift, and his eldest son Cecilius, as was right and law-
ful, came into the title and the estates.

The young lord is no more than twenty-seven years
old ; but he counts on building up a country for him-
self in the land of America, and is to-day, the seventeenth
of October, in the year of grace, 1633, so far prepared
to carry out the plans made by his father, that the
Ark and the Dove are, as I have already said, lying
here in the Thames River, within view of the tavern
where I am writing, ready for sea as soon as the word
shall be given.

WHY I AM ONE OF THE ADVENTURERS

Already are the serving men on board, save John,
who has me in his care, and he claims that before
the sun shall set again our gentlemen will be here,
eager to set off on what can be no less than the bravest
kind of an adventure, during which we shall see all
the strange things that are to be found on the wide
ocean, as well as wild savages, who go about naked,
seeking to kill any who are not of their kind.

WHY I AM ONE OF THE ADVENTURERS 15

I am not overly brave, so John declares, but I am
burning with the desire to see these wild men, whose
skins are brown, if so be it may be done without too
much of danger to myself.

And now it may be asked how it chances that I,
a lad but just turned thirteen years, count to journey
on such a venture in the company of gentlemen, es-
pecially if I be faint-hearted, as John claims.

That part of the story is quickly and easily told.
My mother died so many years ago that I do not even
remember her face, and of relatives I have none in all
this world save my uncle, who also is of our company.

My father could not well leave so young a lad behind
him, trusting to the care of strangers, and since John
has had charge of me these two years past, and is the
kindliest-hearted serving man in all England, what
more natural than that he and I should go with Lord
Baltimore's adventurers ?

I may be faint-hearted, as John claims; but surely
I am not so much of a coward that I would remain in
a place of safety while my father was exposed to such
dangers as will be found in the New World, for weaker
arms than mine have been able to strike a heavy blow
in defense of loved ones.

I have been speaking of young Lord Baltimore as if
he were to be of our company, and yet such is not the
case. Because of certain people who have striven to

i6

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

prevent him from benefiting by the king's gift U) his
father, and who are yet enemies, Lord Cecilius must
perforce remain here in England; Ijut he is to send
both his brothers out to Maryland, Leonard being
named governor of the land, and George simply one
of the adventurers.

THE SIGNAL FOR DEPARTURE

I had hardly more than finished writing these last
lines, when John, his honest face aglow with anticipa-

'

tion and excitement, burst into the tavern with word
that the signals had been set for our departure. The

THE SIGNAL FOR DEPARTURE 17

gentlemen of the comjoany are already gathering on the
river bank, and I must lose no time lest my father be
vexed because of my tardiness.

I shall linger only long enough to gather up the
sheets on which I have v^Titten, w^hile John puts
into the traveling bag such of my belongings as have
been in use while I stayed here, and then will
have come, perhaps, my last moment in this land of
England.

My heart should he sad, and yet it is not, for I
am eager to see those brown savages, and all the
other strange things to be found in the New
World, where is to be my home.

I have come on board the Ark, and am in the great
cabin where the gentlemen are to be housed during
the voyage. John has quarters forward among the
other serving men, where he will remain during the
night ; but at all other times, so my father commands,
he is to be with me, although it seems needless thus to
provide a nurse for a boy of thirteen years, who should
be doing the work of a man.

There was so much to be seen during our journey
down the river, that I remained on deck until the ship
came to anchor ofi the town of Gravesend, where we
are to remain until morning.

Surely it seems as if this ship of ours was overcrowded,
for one can move about on deck only with difficulty;

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 2

i8 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

but it is possible to see that the people aboard the
Dove are stowed even more snugly, for that vessel is
carrying a full third of our company of nearly three
hundred, although she is but one sixth the size of the
Ark.

The first night on shipboard was not pleasant. It
sounded as if half a dozen people were walking to and
fro on the deck just above my head all night long,
and our gentlemen in the great cabin were extremely
noisy, celebrating, so John declared, the beginning of
the voyage.

Much to my comfort, I learned that we are to have
among us three priests, Father White, Father Altham,
and Brother Gervase, and John believes they will do
much toward keeping the younger of our gentlemen
in good behavior, for true it is that some are inclined
to be overly boisterous when laying plans for the settle-
ment of that new land of ours.

A lad's portion

Tt seems, from what I have overheard of the con-
versation since we came to anchor here off Gravesend,
that even a lad like myself may have a certain portion
of the king's gift, for it is set down in the documents
to which the gentlemen referred, that to all children
under the age of sixteen years who shall be taken to

A LAD'S PORTION 19

Maryland at the expense of their parents, or guardians,
twenty-five acres of land shall be given for their very
own.

Therefore it is that I am even now the same as a New
World planter, for my father is paying all the charges
of my journey, and already have I begun to ask what
I shall do with such an estate.

It is also set down in the documents, that each ad-
venturer shall provide himself with one gun having a
snaphance lock; ten pounds of gunpowder; forty
pounds of leaden bullets, pistol and goose shot, of each
sort some ; one sword and belt, and one bandolier and
flask.

At the first opportunity I shall ask my father if he
has provided all these things for me, otherwise it may
chance that I be not allowed to claim the land which
Lord Baltimore has said shall be given to each child
under the age of sixteen, and it would grieve me sorely
to lose by any oversight that portion of the New World
which is mine by right, or will be as soon as I have
come to the country of Maryland.

It comes to my mind that perhaps some who may
read what I am setting down, not being accustomed
to the use of firearms, will fail to understand what is
the meaning of a snaphance lock, for it is less than a
year since it was invented. You who read doubtless
think of a gun as being a firelock only, and perhaps

20 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

have been vexed time and again at being forced to
carry a slow match in order to discharge the weapon;
but all that has been done away with by the lock of

which I speak, for it is made with a
spring, and affixed to the hammer is a piece
of flint, which, when the trigger is pulled,
strikes against the steel bar of the barrel,
thus producing a spark which gives fire to
the powder.
Mayhap some, not being versed in the
art of war, will fail also to understand the meaning
of the word ''bandolier." It is, however, nothing
more than a broad belt to be worn over the shoulder
and across the breast, at the lower end of which can be
fastened a l^ag or powderflask, if, perchance, one does
not carry his ammunition made up into cartridges,
in which last case the cartridges are hung from the
bandolier, as are also the flint and steel, priming horn,
and such other articles as a man of arms may need.

THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND

Perhaps it will be as well, since T have already
said that every child under the age of sixteen who is

THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND 2i

taken to Lord Baltimore's colony shall l)c given twenty-
five acres of land, for me to explain further, that every
gentleman v^ho, at his ov^n expense, carries over to
the Province of Maryland twenty people, men or women,
shall be given not less than two thousand acres of land,
for which no other price is to be paid than a rental
of forty shillings, either in money or goods, each year.

And also, each person over sixteen years of age
whom the gentleman may bring, shall have for himself
or for herself five acres of land, by paying therefor
twelve pennies each year to his lordship.

I believe I have now set down everything concern-
ing his lordship's colony in America that would be of
interest ; but if, peradventure, in the excitement of the
moment, and because of the confusion everywhere
around me, I have neglected aught of importance, it
shall be written at a later date, perhaps after we are well
out on the broad ocean, where, as John says, there
will be nothing for us, who are not seamen, to do,
save twiddle our thumbs and wish time away.

We lay at Gravesend all night, and I had not yet
come on deck because of having given full sway to the
slumber which weighed heavily on my eyelids, when
the Ark and the Dove were gotten under way for the
long journey, which it is understood will not come to
an end until we are set ashore in that part of the New
World owned by the Calvert family.

22

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

AN UNEXPECTED DELAY

It had been in my mind when we left Gravesend,
that the voyage would be continued as fast as the wind
might permit, and yet here we are at anchor off Till-
bury Hope. I do not exactly understand why we have
returned so near to our starting-point, nor can John
explain it to me.

Certain it is, however, that before we were four and
twenty hours in the Channel, one of his Majesty's ships,
with Edward Watkins on board, came in pursuit,

firing a gim as signal that we must heave the vessel to,

as the sailors say when they speak of stopping a ship.

Master Watkins is the king's officer in London whose

OUR ARRIVAL AT COWES 23

duty it is to search after any who may be wronging
his ^Majesty, and he is known as the London Searcher.

Then it was that the captain was ordered back into
the Thames, and I heard Governor Calvert, who had
gone on board the king's vessel to learn the cause of
the trouble, say to my father that false information
had been given concerning the purpose of our voyage.
The^r^ and the Dove were commanded by his Majesty
to return until every man and boy on board both ves-
sels had signed written oath declaring that he was
loyal to the king and counted himself a subject of
England.

One would not suppose many hours would be spent
doing such a thing, but yet a full ten days have we
lain here at Tillbury Hope, and only within an hour
has permission come for us to sail again.

John tells me that most like some of Lord Baltimore's
enemies had given false information to his Majesty
in order to detain us, and, perchance, put an end to
the carrying of a colony to that portion of America
which shall be called the Province of Maryland.

OUR ARRIVAL AT COWES

It was on the twenty-ninth day of October, as I have
already set down, that we were at liberty to leave
Tillbury Hope, and then were the ships steered for the

24 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Isle of Wight; for what reason I did not understand
until we had arrived at Cowes.

From the time I first came on board the Ark 1 had
been looking around hoping to see the priests, for it
was in my mind that they would be of much aid in
describing that which was spread before us, and prove
better companions for a lad than the high-spirited
gentlemen who made up our company. Greatly was I
surprised at failing to find them, for John had said, with-
out any question of doubt, that they would sail with us.

It was when we arrived at Cowes that I understood
why my search had been in vain, for here Father White,
Father Altham, and Brother Gervase came on board,
which explained why we had put in at this place.

Then was it made plain to me concerning the stop-
ping of our ships by Edward Watkins. As you know,
the established religion in England is Protestant, and
we who are Catholics are under a certain disfavor with
those gentlemen who frequent the court ; therefore was
it possible for Lord Baltimore's enemies to make head
a^^ainst him. Also, perhaps, it was to learn if the
reverend fathers were with us that we were called back,
and thus would Lord Baltimore be charged with count-
ing on building up a Catholic colony, when, as an
Englishman, he should favor the Protestants. This,
likewise, was the reason why the priests boarded the
vessels at Cowes, instead of when we lay in the Thames.

WE PUT TO SEA

25

Lord Baltimore himself came to see us at Cowes,
and because of his visit, during which much business
was transacted, such as
receiving his commands
for the establishing of
the province, we did ^j

not leave port
until the morning
of Friday, Novem-
ber twenty-second.

W^ PUT TO SEA

Then, after having been delayed
more than a month, did it seem as
if we were in good truth on our journey,
and yet before many hours had passed "n"'
the northerly wind died away until we were of necessity
come to anchor at Yarmouth, which caused no little
fear among the gentlemen of our company, for if we
were long detained on the coast of England, his lord-
ship's enemies might find opportunity of throwing yet
further troubles in our way.

Fortunately, however, a strong wind, which was al-
most a gale, sprang up during the night, causing con-
fusion among the ships in the harbor. A French
bark was blown from her anchorage and fell afoul of

26 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

the Dove, which vessel was forced to put to sea im-
mediately, otherwise she would have been driven on
the shore, and, lest we be separated from her, the Ark
was obliged to follow.

The wind increased in strength until it was to me
at times as if our ship stood upright, first on one end
and then on the other, and again rolling to and fro
until it seemed certain she would be overset. John,
who had the same sickness in his stomach as had I,
declared that because of our having sailed on Friday
morning, were we sure to come to disaster by shipwreck.

Again and again, while the gale raged, did I say to
myself that he had spoken truly, for of a verity it seemed
as if nothing that had been fashioned by man could
withstand the pounding of the enormous waves or the
fury of the wind which I could hear screaming amid
the rigging.

THE ''dove" disappears

Not until eight and forty hours had passed was the
tempest so far abated that it was possible for me to go
on deck.

Only then did I learn that the Dove was no longer to
be seen. Captain TvOwe, the master of our ship, be-
lieved that she had gone to the bottom, the wind and
the waves proving too much for her, and John de-

THE "DOVE" DISAPPEARS 27

clared it was a judgment upon us because of our having
set sail on Friday ; but Father White tells me it is wicked
to give ear to such foolish superstitions. The good
God would not allow that one of the days of the week
should be evil, and another good ; but that all are alike
to our advantage, if so be we live according to His laws.

I had l:)elieved when the sickness in my stomach was
so great, that nevermore in this life would I desire to
look upon food, much less taste it, and yet, strange as
it may seem, I had no sooner become able to move
about, or, as the sailors say, "got my sea legs on,"
when hunger beset me until it was as if there could not
be food enough in all the ship to satisfy my desires.

But for the belief that the Dove and all on board
had gone to the bottom of the ocean, the first por-
tion of our voyage, when the winds were favoring,
and no greater in strength than was needed to carry
our ship swiftly along, would have been pleasing.

As it was, however, we who w^re in the midst of that
mighty ocean, where was to be seen no token of land,
could but be saddened by the sudden taking away of
such a large portion of our company, and there was
ever present in my mind the thought that before we
might reach that far-away country where we hoped to
make a new home and live amid plenty, the Ark would
suffer the same fate as that of the Dove.

Many a time and again did I check myself when in-

28 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

clined to mirtli, almost fearing to laugh at a moment
when we stood, as it seemed to mc, so near death.

Because of my fears did Father White chide me
severely, saying that the God in Heaven had the same
care over us whether we were on the sea or on the land,
and that we should put our trust in Him for the con-
tinuance of life, knowing that when it was His will
should we die, and not until then, however tempests
might rage and monsters of the sea rise up against us.

A SECOND TEMPEST

It was as if I had hardly more than regained my
courage through the pious advice of the priest, before
another storm came up, equal in fury to three or four
such gales as we had first experienced, and I was not
the only member of that company who believed our
final day had come.

Even Captain Lowe, who had declared that the Ark
was so seaworthy as to make fair weather even in great
storms, meaning she was a stanch sea boat, admitted
that only by God's mercy could we hope to live through
the tempest.

Even while the ship was rolling and pitching as if
bent on tearing herself asunder, and all our gentlemen,
together with many of the serving men, were in the
great cabin holding fast to everything which was

A SECOND TEMPEST

29

firmly fixed, in order to avoid being thrown violently
about, did John whisper in my ear that of a verity
Friday was an unlucky day. At the same time he
reminded me that this was Friday, the twenty-ninth
of November, and I was not heartened when I heard
Father Altham say it seemed as if all the spirits and
witches of Maryland were battling against us.

One of the gentlemen, I think it was my uncle, de-
clared that the sailors had seen sunfish swimming
against the sun's course, which was a sure sign of a
furious storm, and verily it was a tempest such as or e
may not see, and live, more than once in a lifetime.

There poured forth such a force of wind as would
seemingly blow our ship under water at every blast,
and before mid-

\ \r
\/:'

night came the
Ark was stripped
of her mainsail, it
having been torn
from the boltropes
and carried away
on the wings of the
storm.

I question if
there was one in the great cabin, save Father White,
who was not on his knees in prayer when the captain
came below, saying there was no reason why he or

30 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

his crew should remain on deck, since they were
powerless in every way.

The helm had been lashed, and the ship was left
to blow about on those fearful waves like a helpless
raft, while we who were beneath the decks looked
death in the face during every second of each minute
that passed so slowly.

But God, who holdeth the waters in the hollow of
His hand, took heed to us even as He does to the spar-
row's fall, and Vvhen the winds were spent and the
waves had subsided, not one of all our company was
missing, while, save for the loss of the mainsail, the Ark
was in as seaworthy a condition as when we left Cowes.

It was as if the witches of Maryland, having tried
to overwhelm us by tempests, were wearied of their
efforts, for from that time until we were come to land,
the weather could not have been sweeter. Each day
was the wind favoring, and, until Christmas came, our
voyage was much like some excursion for pleasure.

AN UNSEEMLY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Then came that disaster brought about entirely
by those who suffered, and if, when I am older grown,
there be need to put a check upon a sinful appetite,
then have I only to send my mind back to that grew-
some day in the year of grace, 1633.

AN UNSEEMLY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 31

Because we had l)een so favored in the voyage after
the second tempest, Governor Calvert believed we
should make special rejoicings on the day which
marks the birth of our Saviour, and to the end that all
might make merry, he gave orders for wine to be dealt
out to each person, as much as he desired to drink.

We ate heartily, for the noonday meal was a veri-
table feast, being made up of the best from out all
our stores, but it shames me to say that among us
were those who drank of the wine until they were like
unto beasts, yea, worse, for brutes satisfy their hunger
or their thirst, and then are done, whereas these com-
panions of ours drank until they fell upon the decks
unable to move.

Then came that which seemed to me was a punish-
ment direct from God, for thirty-one of the people
in the Ark sickened on the day after Christmas with
a fever, and before the new year had come, one of the
gentlemen and eleven serving men had died, and had
been buried in the sea.

There is little need for me to say that we were sad-
dened and sore at heart because of this disaster,. which
might well be called a judgment.

The casting of the bodies into the ocean, while the
priests stood near the rail saying the prayers for the
dead, was to me something so dreadful that before
the second body had been dropped over, I fled into

32

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

the great cabin, hiding my face in the coverings of
my bed while I stopped my ears, lest I should hear

even those holy words
which were being spoken
by the servants of God.

When all was over, and
I sat in the cabin shiver-
ing with terror, Father
\\ hite came to my side,
whispering words of
cheer and promise, or
reminding me of
the loving care of
the Almighty, un-
til the veil of sor-
row and of fear
was swept away.
Verily do I be-
lieve that that which seemed at the time so dreadful,
was of a benefit to us, for surely no man could, with
the remembrance of that awesome day upon him,
offend as did those who had gone to their judgment.

THE PORT OF BARBADOES

It was but a few days after this that Captain Lowe
told Governor Calvert that our store of food was run-

THE PORT OF BARBADOES 33

ning low, and asked permission to make port at the
island of Barbadoes, where were settled Englishmen,
whose governor, Master Harvey, was a brother to the
governor of Virginia.

There, so Captain Lowe believed, we should be made
welcome, and be able to buy of provisions as much as
we might need, at fair prices.

Governor Calvert could do no less than give the
master of the Ark permission to sail into this port,
which it seemed was near at hand, and, therefore,
the bow of the ship was turned in that direction; but
it puzzled mc greatly to know how the captain,
being upon the sea with no land in sight, could say
where one island or another might be found.

However that might be, we sailed as true for Bar-
badoes as if the way had been marked out by sign-
posts, and verily I was rejoiced at the prospect of
being able to stretch my legs on land, thinking it would
be possible for me to go ashore in the first boat which
put out from the ship.

In this, however, I was mistaken, for none were
allowed to land until after Captain Lowe had made
certain there was nothing of danger to be met with,
for in those strange countries an Englishman must
needs keep his eyes open, else may he speedily come
to grief.

It appeared that the island of Barbadoes was not as

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 3

34 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

pleasant a haven of rest as might be found, for the
governor had just discovered a plot among the slaves,
which was that they rise against the white people,
and seize the first vessel that came into port.

Because of this discovery, the Ark remained at
anchor a considerable distance from the shore, and
orders were given that no one venture on the island
until it was known to a certainty that all danger had
passed.

We also learned here that had we visited Bona
Vista, as was the captain's first intention, we should
have come full upon a Spanish fleet, and, because of
the war between England and Spain, should have been
made prisoners, afterward to be sold as slaves.

Father White insisted that in thus escaping, as if
by accident, the Spanish, and in not having come to
Barbadoes until the plot of the slaves had been dis-
covered, was proof that God preserved us from those
dangers to the end that we might make in the New
World a province where His laws would be kept to
the letter, as well as to the spirit.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE " DOVE "

Before three days had passed, even those who doubted
Father White's words came to believe them true, for
then it was that the Dove, which we all felt certain

THE ARRIVAL OF THE "DOVE" 35

had foundered at sea, came Into port with never one
of her people missing.

It can well be imagined how great was the joy among
us at meeting here in mid-ocean, as one might say,
those whom we had so long believed to be dead !

We were eager to hear the story of those who had
much the same as come to us from out the grave, and
I for one was disappointed because it had in it nothing
whatsoever of adventure.

On the night of the terrible storm, when the Dove
had disappeared, so the people who were on board
told us, she bore away for a refuge at the Scilly Islands,
and as soon as fair weather was come, sailed in pursuit
of us, stopping at Barbadoes by the merest chance.

36 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

That night we gave thanks to God for His goodness
and mercy, Father White striving to impress upon all
the fact that if we lived in the New World with the love
of the Almighty in our hearts, we need fear no evil.

It was as if we had been sent to this island of Bar-
badoes simply that the Dove might overtake us, for
there was little opportunity to add to our stores because
of the high prices which Governor Harvey's people
put upon all their goods.

And then again, they carried themselves toward us
as if we were enemies instead of Englishmen, and
when, finally, some of the people, myself among the
number, were allowed to go on shore, the dwellers
on the island glowered upon us as if it gave them
pain to speak a friendly word.

UNDER SAIL AGAIN

However, we remained at anchor nineteen days, and
on the evening of January twenty-fourth, in the year
of grace 1634, much to the relief of all, I dare venture
to say, the Ark and the Dove were got under way.

Next day we passed the island of St. Lucia, and in
the evening were come to Matalina, where we saw half
a dozen strangely built boats, called canoes, in which
were brown men, who, so the people of the island told
us, had but lately eaten several Englishmen.

UNDER SAIL AGAIN

2>7

It was said that all these dark-skinned natives on
the islands near about were cannibals, and truly they
were not pleasing to look upon.

I had been eager to see the brown people of the New
World; but this one glimpse was enough to satisfy
me for all time.

My father declares that in the Province of Mary-
land we shall come upon brown people who are
inclined to be friendly with those whose skins are
white, and who do not make a practice of eating
Englishmen.

Four and twenty hours later we were at the island of
St. Christopher, where is a colony of French people,
and by them we were treated with exceeding friendliness.

3^ CALVERT OF MARYLAND

being supplied at low cost with such stores as we stood
in need of.

Here we remained two days only, for Governor
Calvert was eager to continue the voyage, and gentle-
men, as well as serving men, lent a hand in taking on
board the goods which had been bought for our com-
fort and well-being.

THE LAND OF AMERICA

From the time we left St. Christopher, until the twenty-
fourth day of February, there was nothing happened
which need be set down here. Each day was much
like another in that the winter's sun shone gratefully
warm upon us, and all the winds were favoring.

Then were we come in sight of that headland in
Virginia which is called Point Comfort, and the voyage
was much the same as at an end.

We had crossed the mighty ocean where one might
well expect to meet dangers of every kind, and yet had
come safely to the land of America where were to be
made our new homes.

Anchored close under the fort, we waited anxiously to
learn how we might be received by those Englishmen who
had, under command of one Captain John Smith, built
what could well be called the first real town in the New
World, although it was by no means.the first settlement.

THE LAND OF AMERICA

39

Governor Calvert and Father White were of the mind
that these men of Virginia would not give us a hearty
welcome, because it had been said in London that they
were much opposed to the king's giving Lord Baltimore
land which they believed belonged to themselves.

However, none could have been more kind than
were these same Englishmen, and Governor Sir John
Harvey himself
came on board to
greet our Governor
Calvert, looking
upon him as the
one who stood in
the place of Lord
Baltimore. Before
wc weighed anchor
again, these people J
had promised to
furnish us with
such of provisions
as might be needed,
together with what of cattle and hogs, poultry and corn
we should want.

They also agreed to send, as a free gift, bricks and
tiles for Lord Baltimore's own dwelling, and otherwise
acted in such very friendly fashion as caused us to
have a certain feeling of homesickness when the time

40

CALVERT OF MARYLAx\D

was come to continue on up that vast inland sea, which
is called the bay of Chesapeake, in search of our Prov-
vince of Maryland.

THE LAND GIVEN BY THE KING

Truly it was a beautiful land to which we had come !
I would I were able to set down here the same picture
I saw on the westernmost shore, while we sailed slowly
up the bay!

Although it was the third day of March, the air was
sweet and balmy; the trees were green, and amid them
sang birds of gay plumage, while all about us on this
inland sea swam ducks of many kinds, and swans and
herons.

THE LAND GIVEN BY THE KING 41

From the tree tops in the distance arose such flocks
of pigeons that it was as if a great veil had been stretched
to cover the foliage, and I wondered where so many
feathered creatures might find rest for their feet
during the night, for verily it seemed as if there were
more than would fill all that vast forest, if so be they
alighted.

It can well be fancied that our people on both vessels
were craning their necks to see this country which the
king had given to Lord Baltimore, and, as Father White
said, no man had ever seen a fairer sight.

Save for the wings of the birds and the harsh cries
of the ducks, it was so still that now and then we of the
Ark could hear exclamations of surprise and delight
from those of the Dove, thus telling that they, like us,
were enchanted with all to be seen.

Before we left England I had heard it said that this
world of America was fair .to look upon ; but all which
lay before me was so beautiful that T rubbed my eyes
again and again to make certain it was no fanciful
dream.

I might spend all the days allotted me on this earth,
trying to describe the land in which our homes are to
be built, and yet have come to the grave without setting
down one half the wondrous story. Therefore it is I
had best give over trying, and content myself by sa5dng
that before the day was come to a close we had arrived

42 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

at the mouth of a noble river which was set down on
our maps by its Indian name of Potomac; but which
Governor Calvert then and there changed to St.
Gregory's.

Father White, who was standing near me when the
Ark was headed into this grand stream, said: —

''It is the sweetest and greatest river I have ever
seen, so that the Thames is but a little finger to it.
There are no marshes nor swamps about, so far as I
can make out; but solid ground with a great variety
of huge trees, not choked with shrubs, but commonly
so far distant from each other that a coach and horses
might travel among them without hindrance."

FEAR OF THE BROV^N MAN

This sweet picture, however, was not without its
bitterness, as we soon came to understand when the
night closed silently in around us, for then could be
seen here, there, and everywhere, so far as the eye
might reach, small fires kindled on both shores of the
river, and around them brown men armed with guns,
with spears, and with bows and arrows, as if they had
made ready to prevent us from gaining a foothold upon
the land which they most likely claimed as theirs, little
dreaming that his Majesty of England, so far away,
held to be owner of it all.

FEAR OF THE BROWN MAN 43

There was in my mind a fear that these brown-
skinned people, who were guarding the river against
our landing, might be cannibals, even as were those
whom we had seen at the island of Barbadoes; but
John, who claims to have heard much concerning the
Indians of America from a cousin of his who lives in
Jamestown, told me that we would find them friendly,
if so be we were fair and honest in our dealings.

Why they had thus gathered as if to oppose our
landing, John could not say, and I misdoubted much of
what he told me, believing he repeated the words simply
to give me courage, for I saw on his face, as I did on
the faces of many others around me, a look of distrust
and fear.

It is true that the people of Virginia whom we had
met while lying under Governor Harvey's fort claimed
that we need have no fear concerning these savages,
and yet all our company must have asked this same
question, which was, that if we had been told the truth,
why were these brown men gathered around us armed
as if for battle, and with watch fires so plentiful that
a boat might not pass from the ship to the shore without
being seen?

Not until we were come near to the island, which
Governor Calvert at once named St. Clements, were
the anchors dropped, nor was a careful guard set lest
the brown men should attempt to come on board

44

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

against our will. Then were those who were on other
duty told that they might seek repose.

As for myself, I could no more have gone into the
great cabin, shutting out the sweet odors of the land,
than I could have flown. The fact that we had come,
after so long a journey, to our own Province of Mary-
land, finding it such a delightful country, would alone

have kept my feet
-r jMi-'fMp' glued to the deck.

V^^^^^' ' ' The beauty of it was

so unexpected as to be
,- unreal, and there was
in my mind a certain
fear lest it might fade
away like images in a
dream, if I took my eyes
from it, and yet in the
darkness I could see
nothing save the gloom
of the land and those
numberless watch fires.
T must have slept somewhat before morning, how-
ever, else did the time pass unusually fast, for when the
day came, all glorious with the golden light that gave
to the foliage a vivid green and caused the birds to
burst forth in floods of melody, it seemed as if no more
than two or three hours had passed.

WHERE THE CITY WOULD BE BUILT 45

WHERE THE CITY WOULD BE BUILT

Then it was that we could see clearly this island
which had been chosen in the night as our first stop-
ping place, and I asked John if it was here we were to
build a city; but he was of the mind that much would
be done before Governor Calvert decided such an
important matter.

The land belonging to Lord Baltimore was, most
likely, to be spied out in order that we might learn where
it would be to our best advantage to settle, and again
that the temper of the savages might be known, for
surely what we had seen the night previous was proof,
at least to my mind, that they would oppose our coming.

Again, as I looked, I could understand that this
island of St. Clements, so lately named, would be all
too small for a town of any size, and more certain was
I on hearing one of the gentlemen say it did not contain
more than an hundred acres in all its surface.

It was a beautiful place, however, and in all England
I question if there could be found one so fair, covered
as it was with tall trees, such as wild walnuts, acorns,
and black walnuts, together with cedar and sassafras,
among which were vines and plants in great abundance.

The first work of the day was to take from out the
hold where it had been stowed, lest the heavy waves

46

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

of the ocean should dash it to pieces, the shallop, and
in her were sent to the island three of the serving maids
that they might begin their labors in this new province
of ours by washing the soiled linen.

It was like to have been a disaster instead of a task,
for the water all around was so shallow that even a

small boat could not

come up to the firm

land; therefore those

who were on board

must perforce wade a

certain distance, and

when one of the men

leaped over the side to

lead the way, he was

so incautious as to

overset the shallop,

dropping the maids

into the water

together with

all the linen,

which last was

lost to us for

all time.

Fortunately,

the maids were saved ; but some of our people mourned
even as if they had been drowned, for to us in a new

TAKING POSSESSION OF THE ISLAND 47

country, where linen could not be had for the Ijuying,
to lose so many garments was a serious mishap.

TAKING POSSESSION OF THE ISLAND

When the gentlemen had broken their fast, we all
went on shore. Not a brown man could be seen any-
where, and certain it is there were none on the island.

I ventured to say sportively to John that mayhap
we had dreamed of those watch fires, and of the armed
men who marched to and fro, but he replied grimly,
that unless we had a care there would soon be good
l)roof it was no vision.

"They are hiding amid the foliage all around us,
I make no doubt," he said, "to learn w^hat is our
purpose, and it will be well if we do not offend them."

Surely the wickedest brown men that ever lived
could not have been offended at that which we did on
this first morning in the Province of Maryland. Our
p-entlemen themselves, with Governor Calvert lending
a hand, hewed down two large trees, fashioned botli
roughly into the form of square timbers, and of them
made a huge cross, after which we formed in proces-
sion, serving men as well as gentlemen, marching two
by two, with Father White and the governor leading.
At the head were four of the gentlemen bearing the cross,
which was carried to the highest part of the island.

48

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

ksr^ «» " 'A;

Here a hole was dug, and the cross set therein, where
it might be seen from far out over the bay.

We recited the Htanies of the Holy Cross with great
emotion, and Governor Calvert took solemn possession
of the soil of Maryland in such form as must have been
pleasing in the sight of the good God who had delivered
us out of so many dangers.

As soon as all this had been done, and verily it seemed
to me after the religious services as if we were indeed
at home, I could see that it was not the purpose of our
governor to waste any time before beginning to build
a town wherein we might live.

A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 49

A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

Immediately preparations were made for a voyage
of discovery, and lest I set down too many words in
the telling of the story, for to me those first things
which we did, unimportant though they may be to
others, were far greater than anything afterward
accomplished, I will relate it briefly.

First, it was decided that the Ark should be left off
this island of St. Clements, and to that end all her
anchors were let drop lest heavy winds should spring up.

The small pinnace, which had been hired at Vir-
ginia, was fitted with oars, and a sufficient number of
seamen told off to man her.

Governor Calvert and the gentlemen made ready to
go on board the Dove, and I, fearing lest I should be
left behind, and thus fail of seeing all the wonders of
this New World, begged my father's permission to
accompany him, the which he unwillingly granted,
thinking I might be brought into places of danger.

It was only when I insisted that since we two were
the same as alone in the world, it were better both
share every danger, than for one to remain in security,
possibly to mourn the death of the other, that he finally
consented, and thus, boy though I was, I joined the
company that was to spy out the land.

CALVERT OF MARYLAND 4

50

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

All the seamen of the Ark, save those who were
aboard the small pinnace, together with the greater

number of serving
men and maids, were
left on the ship,
because it was not
l^elieved wise to take
too large a force,
since the brown men
might think we were
come bent on mis-
chief.

Of the priests, only

Father Altham set off

with us ; and, in

silence — for no man

could say what lay

before us — we left

~ " the harbor to meet,

as was believed, those dark-skinned men who dwelt in

the land the king had given Lord Baltimore.

VISITING THE INDIANS

f**^

T had hoped we would go out of the river and sail
farther into the bay; but this was not Governor Cal-
vert's purpose, for he steered directly up the Potomac,

VISITING THE INDIANS 51

or the St. Gregory's, whichever you choose to call it,
and before we had well left our mooring- place, was it
possible to see the savages on either side the stream
running to and fro, as if in alarm. But when our little
fleet advanced, they disappeared amid the foliage.

We continued on until we arrived at an Indian vil-
lage in which were two or three hundred people, mayhap ;
and here Governor Calvert and Father Altham, with
only four men to work at the oars, went on shore alone,
trusting, by so coming unattended, the Indians would
understand that their intent was peace and good-will.

The Dove lay so near the bank of the stream' that
it was possible for us who were on board her to hear
very much of what was said by the governor and the
priest, when, without showing any fear whatsoever,
although the savages stood in threatening attitudes,
they stepped out of the boat.

"We have come as friends," Governor Calvert said,
and then, to my great surprise, I heard one of the brown-
skinned men reply to him in English, whereupon, like
a silly, I asked John how it could be that these savages
spoke in the same tongue as white men.

The explanation was simple, and my face flushed
with shame as I realized there was no reason why I
should ask the question, for surely these Indians had
not lived so far from the settlement of Jamestown but
that they would have visited it, and Captain John Smith,

52

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

so it was said, had been far afoot in either direction,
therefore we were by no means the first white men
they had seen, nor the only ones who were then among
them, as we learned very shortly.

Well, there was no little talk between Governor
Calvert and the Indians, after which Father Altham

V

ff^_%l r^, .S

-=tN^._

much the same as preached a sermon to the people,
saying that we had come to live among them as brothers,
and to tell them of Christ.

He spoke a long time, and, when he was done, the
head man said in his own language, which was repeated
in English by some of those standing near : —

"It is good. We will use one table. My people
shall hunt for my brother, and all things shall be in
common between us."

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 53

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

It was not yet noon when Governor Calvert and
Father Altham came on board the Dove again, and we
set off farther up the river to a village of the Piscat-
away Indians, regarding which those on shore had
told the priest.

It was yet early in the afternoon when we came
around a bend in the stream, beyond which we could see
the village, and there, lying at anchor, were two small
pinnaces, much after the same make as was the Dove.

That there were white people on the river above us
no one had believed, although we received information
of a settlement of Englishmen on Kent Island, some
distance farther up the bay, of which I shall tell you
later, and we' craned our necks in vain to see English
crews aboard the pinnaces. In this, however, we were
disappointed, for a dozen or more dark-skinned men
were seen aboard these craft, but never a white face.

On the shore were gathered no less than five hundred
Indians, so John said, all armed and seemingly ready
to prevent us from making a landing.

To see the pinnaces, which were certainly of English
make, frightened me as I gazed at them, for I said
to myself that these brown-skinned men must have
captured, and perhaps eaten, the crews who sailed

54

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

them, and that we should be treated in the same man-
ner unless we made valiant battle.

I soon came to learn how groundless were my fears,
for when Governor Calvert and Father Altham went
on shore alone, as before, making signs of friendship,
a white man stepped out from amid the throng, and
Captain Lowe shouted in a joyous tone : —
"Henry Fleet! Byall that's good! What do you here ? "
"Trading, as I have done many a month, and with

license from those of
Virginia," the man

on shore replied in
a not over-friendly
tone, and asked al-'
most immediately,
"Why do you come?
Are you of Balti-
more's party who
claim all the rights
in this bay of Chesa-
peake?"

Then it was that
Governor Calvert
spoke him fairly,
and the two went
apart a little way from the others, talking in low
tones, until I saw this Henry Fleet strike his hand

CAPTAIN FLEET'S STORY

55

heartily into that of our governor's, as if to say
they were friends, and from that moment I had no
fear of those dark-skinned men who were seemingly
opposed to our coming.

CAPTAIN fleet's STORY

I had best set down here what I afterward heard con-
cerning this same Captain Henry Fleet, who, because
of his acquaintance with the Indians, and owing to
certain business transactions he had had with the
man who later caused us of Maryland so much trouble,
became of considerable importance during a time in
our Province of Maryland.

It seemed, so the story went, that this man had been
captured by the Indians a long distance inland on the
river Potomac, as early as the year 1621. Why he was
there I am not able to learn ; but most like he had been
one of Captain John Smith's company, and, being a
willful man, had strayed away in search of ad-
venture rather than serve under so masterful a
leader as was Smith.

However that may be, he was taken prisoner by the
Indians, and with them remained near to four
years, by which time he had learned the language
of his captors, and become acquainted with the
country.

56 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

He was finally looked upon as a friend rather than as
a prisoner, and on making known his desire to visit the
settlement of Virginia, permission was readily given.

From that colony he found opportunity to sail to
England, where he succeeded in persuading a merchant,
one WiUiam Cloberry, to fit him out as a trader, and
since then, with the pinnaces provided by Master
Cloberry, has had no little intercourse with the English-
men of Kent Island, who afterward gave us so much
trouble, as I shall tell you presently.

When Captain Fleet had become satisfied that our
Governor Calvert had no thought of interfering with
his trading among the Indians, at least for the time
being, he at once took upon himself the duties of guide
and guardian, and it must be confessed that through
his good offices we of Lord Baltimore's company gained
a friendly footing with the savages far sooner than
might have been possible under any other circumstances.

A VISIT FROM AN INDIAN WEROWANCE

We were told that this town of Piscataway was the
home of the werowance, or king of the Indians, and
that if he could be induced to receive us as friends,
then would all tlie other brown-skinned men in this
Province of Maryland follow his example.

To this end Captain Fleet directed all his efforts,

A VISIT FROM AN INDIAN WEROWANCE 57

and very shortly the king came on board the Dove,
followed by twelve or fifteen of his chief men, where
both the Governor and Father Altham set about giving
proof of their
friendship for
the brown men.

It was while
this was being
done that a vast
throng of Indi-
ans on shore
began to fear
lest their wero-
wance was being
wrongly dealt
with, and set up
such shouts, ac-
companied by
threatening ges-
tures, as caused
the savage ruler to send two of his followers to explain
why he remained.

It was not possible, however, to free the minds of
these savage people of fear concerning the safety of
their chief, until he had shown himself on the deck of
the Dove, and in a loud voice declared that he was
remaining of his own will among friends.

58 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

When he went below again, as if eager to be once
more with the white men, his people stood on the very
brink of the shore, watching suspiciously as if fearing
lest we might work some mischief to their king.

I cannot set down of my own knowledge all that was
said and done during the visit of the werowance, for
he and his followers, together with Governor Calvert
and our gentlemen, held long and private conversation
in the cabin of the pinnace, and when it was come
to an end the visitors went on shore, whereupon our
vessel, in company with those under command of
Captain Fleet, made sail in order to return to the island
of St. Clements.

INDIAN VERSUS ENGLISH CLAIMS

During the voyage toward what we believed would
be our new home, my father told me that the wero-
wance of Piscataway had given permission for us to
settle upon his land, for it seems that he claimed all
the country roundabout as his own, giving no heed
to the king of England.

When I ventured to say that we need only show the
paper from his Majesty, on which was the great seal
of England, giving us lawful right to all the country,
in order to prove ownership, my father replied that
T.ord Baltimore's instructions had been to buv from

SEEKING A NEW PLACE FOR THE CITY 59

the savages whatsoever land they claimed to own,
rather than risk making enemies of them by setting
up rights of our own.

If this were done, then would the land be doubly
ours, first by gift of his Majesty, and second through
purchase from the Indians.

Before many hours had passed, all of us, even in-
cluding myself, came to understand how fortunate
we were in having chanced upon this Captain Fleet,
who was so well acquainted with the country, for when
we were arrived at St. Clements, where our people
received us as if we had just come out from greatest
danger, he declared that the island was by no means
so suitable a spot in which to build our town as a
certain place not many miles distant.

SEEKING A NEW PLACE FOR THE CITY

So great faith had Governor Calvert in the honest
intent of Captain Fleet, that, without parley, we were
all embarked once more, and the fleet of vessels, in-
cluding the Ark, sailed down the Potomac to the mouth
of a river which Governor Calvert named St. Mary's,
and on the bank of which was an Indian village,
called by the odd-sounding name of Yaocomico.

Verily it was a country fair to look upon, where a point
of land ran out into the river with bold shores covered

6o

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

with an abundance of trees and springs of fresh

water, making, so our gentlemen declared, a perfect

-v> , location for forti-

>-■

fications in case
enemies should
come upon us.

There was also
in this village
another wero-
wance, and when
Governor Calvert,
with my father
and two others
of the gentlemen,
went on shore
in company with
Captain Fleet, this savage ruler invited them into his
own dwelling, where, upon mats made of grass, did
they sleep all night, while the remainder of our com-
pany stayed on board the vessels anxiously awaiting the
result of the visit.

THE BARGAIN

Now as to what took place during the evening and on
the following morning, I cannot say of my own knowl-
edge; but we who remained on the water were told

THE BARGAIN

6i

that Governor Calvert had offered to buy from these
savages, in order that we might build upon it our first
town, the point of land on the right hand side of the
river, which was to be called Augusta Carolina.

It was left to Captain Fleet to arrange the terms of
this bargain, and from out our store of axes, hose,
knives, and clothes,

such as would be
used in trading with
the Indians, he gave
to the chief of Yao-
comico and his men
as much as satisfied
them to part with
their land.

So well pleased
WTre the brown-
skinned people with this
bargain, that they of their
own will agreed to give up
the houses, and the corn which was growing, to us,
promising at the same time that at the end of the
harvest they would move away entirely, leaving us
in undisputed possession; but in the meanwhile we
should live friendly and peaceably together.

About thirty square miles of land were thus bought,
and, as I have said, given the name of Augusta Caro-

62 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

lina. As to the town itself, Father White insisted it
should be known as St. Mary's, in honor of the mother
of Jesus Christ.

As soon as our people on shipboard heard of the trade
that had been made between Governor Calvert and
the Indian chief, the big guns of the vessels were dis-
charged, and the men let off their muskets in token that
we had at last taken possession of our Province of
Maryland.

Although as yet nothing had been done, save in the
way of talk, it seemed to me as if we had really settled
down to our own, and I had a certain feeling of content
that we were to live in so fair a country, of which no less
than fifty acres would be my very own.

THE VILLAGE OF YAOCOMICO

You may be certain that we who had journeyed so far
went on shore at once after Governor Calvert had pur-
chased for us the right, and while the serving men were
taking out from the vessels our goods and provisions,
in order to establish homes in this village which the
owners were so ready to desert, I found much with
which to occupy my attention.

It was only reasonable that my curiosity should be
greatest concerning the houses in which we were to live,
at least, during a certain time, until others, more like

THE VILLAGE OF YAOCOAIICO

63

sU.

those we knew of in England, could be built ; and being
told by Captain Fleet that there was no reason why
I might not
roam about at
will, I wan-
dered through
the village,
taking note of
all that was to
he seen.

The dwell-
ings, whether
large or small, were oval
in shape, much as if you
were to cut an egg in
halves lengthwise, and
built of poles, the larger ends of which were stuck in
the ground to considerable depth, while the tops were
bent over until they could be tied together by vines.
Across and upon this network were woven of reeds,
dried grass, and twigs, veritable blankets, made with
such care that they would shed the rain.

These huts, call them houses if you will, were from
eight to ten feet high in the center, where was left a hole
both for the smoke to pass out and the light to come in.

You must know that there were no such things as
fireplaces, but whatsoever of heat, either for comfort or

64 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

cooking jjurposes was needed, came from a lire built on
the ground directly under the hole in the roof, and, as
you may suppose, very much of the smoke lingered in-
side, instead of passing freely out through the top;
therefore he who remained within any length of time
was put to much discomfort with his eyes because of the
noisome vapor.

In order to get into these odd dwellings, a hole had
been cut at what might be called the smaller end of the
egg. It was no more than three feet high, therefore he
who entered must do so on all fours, and in front of this
was hung a skin of some kind to serve as door, in case of
a storm ; but at all other times it was left open that the
draft of air might serve the better to carry away the
smoke from the fire.

Six or seven of these odd huts were much larger than
the others, and, as I afterward learned, were owned by
the chief men of the tribe. These were divided into
three or four rooms by means of hanging skins, or of
woven grass made in the form of curtains ; but whether
big or little, the dwellings were not inviting to English
people accustomed to well-made houses.

Even before I had got on shore one of these large
huts had been given by the savages to our priests, and
when I came upon it the good men were busily engaged
fitting it up as a church. Thus it was that almost our
first labor in the Province of Maryland was directed

THE VILLAGE OF YAOCOMICO

65

toward preparing a place in which we might worship
God after a simple fashion.

Another of the large huts was given over to my father,
my uncle, and myself, together with our serving men,
and in this one,
which I was to call
my home during the
first summer in our
town of St. Mary's,
had beds been made
by driving four
stakes into the
ground with poles
laid across them and lashed firmly with the sinews of
animals, forming a screen on w^hich could be placed
skins and leaves until one might lie upon them with
some degree of comfort.

The brown-skinned men behaved as if it was much
to their pleasure that we had come among them, readily
giving up their houses to us ; and I believe of a verity
had our company been so large as to require every
dwelling in the village, these friendly savages would have
slept in the open, rather than deprive us of a shelter.
From this time on I had no fear that our Indians
of Maryland would prove to be like those those who,
it was said, had eaten white people, and I went here
and there among them without feeling timorous.

CALVERT OF MARYLAND 5

66

CALVERT OF AIARYLAND

WHAT THE INDIANS LOOK LIKE

Save for the paint upon their faces and bodies, these
Indians of the New World are by no means displeasing
to the eye. They are tall, built
like race horses, being all muscle
and sinew rather than given to
much flesh ; but the coloring which
they look upon as an ornament
does not only offend the eye, but
is disagreeable to the nose, for the
odor arising from their almost
naked bodies, mingled with the fat
with which the paint is mixed,
smells most vilely.
As for clothes, they have few, and these easy of
making. A mantle or cloak of skin, and an apron
about their waists, with shoes of soft, yellow hide, is
all they seem to need as protection against the weather.
But of ornaments they have a profusion. I have
seen upon the neck of one man who appeared to be
of importance in the tribe, no less than twelve strings
of beads, and bound around his forehead, the image
of a fish beaten out of pure copper. The hair of the
men is gathered together in a clump, and tied with
fancifully ornamented strips of deer hide that has

INDIAN WEAPONS AND TOOLS

67

been tanned in smoke, after which feathers of gay
colors are fastened in, until their heads, when seen from
behind, are more like those of some gaudy plumaged
birds than of human beings.

INDIAN WEAPONS AND TOOLS

I took note that only two in this village had guns of
English make, and these they evidently carried as orna-
ments, not knowing how to use them, at least, so I
judged, because when our people were discharging
our weapons as token that we had taken possession of
the Province of Maryland for our very own, the Indians
looked upon the handling of the muskets in wonder,
not venturing to charge their guns, even though powder
was offered them.

Of other weapons they had plenty : long, stout bows
which required great strength to bend, and were corded

with strips of deer hide rolled hard until they were
round ; and arrows barbed with horn, or sharp pieces
of flint, such as must inflict a most grievous wound

68 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

when piercing the body of an animal or of a man. In
addition to these were heavy clubs of wood in which
were many knots, and all hardened in the fire.

There were also spears of stout wood, weighing twelve
or fifteen pounds, with heads of flint as large as my
hand, and sharpened on two sides by being chipped
away until they were like knives.

Their great axes, which must have been fashioned
with infinite labor from stones, had hickory branches
twisted around them for handles, and the whole bound
with sinews until the stone was fixed almost immovably
in its socket.

Some of our people believed that these rude weapons
were to be despised, as against our powder and ball;
but John tells me that he would rather stand against a
man at short range who was armed even with a snap-
hance musket, than with one of those spears with
jagged head, which, if striking one's body, must cut and
mangle it fearsomely.

LANDING THE GOODS

I had supposed that we would live on shore at once
after the huts were made ready for our use ; but Gov-
ernor Calvert had other views, as it seemed, for when
many of our belongings had been taken from the ships,
orders were given that we remain on board during each

LANDING THE GOODS

69

night, lest the friendly behavior of the Indians should
cloak some dark plot against us ; and in the meanwhile
a fort was to be built of heavy logs, wherein we might
take refuge if so be these kindly appearing brown men
proved to be wrongly disposed toward us.

The first day was spent in landing such goods as
would not be needed on shipboard, and in setting to

order these
Indian huts;
but it was
understood
that on the
following
morningthe
building of a fort
and a storehouse
was to be begun.
The Indians seemed to
enjoy the bustle and con-
fusion of unloading the
vessels, taking hold with
a right good will to aid
the men with the heavy
packages, and carrying
to andjro as directed,
until it was to me as if so many gigantic ants were
moving their belongings from one mound to another.

70 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

That evening, in the great cabin of the Ark, our gentle-
men gathered to sum up the advantages which had so
quickly and so readily been gained, and thus it was that
I, who was allowed to be present, since nothing of a
secret nature would be discussed, learned how much
more fortunate were we than those other Englishmen
who had settled in Virginia, or round about Massachu-
setts Bay.

We had found homes, rude to be sure, but yet such as
would shelter us from the weather, already built, and in
which we might live with fair degree of comfort until
the first crops had been planted and harvested.

Instead of being forced to hew down trees in order to
clear away a place for our town, we had found it already
prepared for us, with large fields of corn planted and
growing.

Then again, instead of arriving almost on the verge of
starvation, as had those other colonists, we were pro-
vided with a large supply of food brought from England,
purchased at St. Christopher, or taken on board at Point
Comfort, and, in addition to having as much seed as
would be needed for planting, there was enough in the
Ark and Dove to provide us with all the necessaries of
life during a full year.

THE SUSQUEHANOUGHS 71

That the land which had been given for the building
up of our Province of Maryland was in so fair a por-
tion of the New World was not among the least of our
blessings. Instead of being on a rocky seacoast, as
were the settlers of Plymouth, we were on the shore of
a beautiful inland sea, with water fowl of every kind at
hand, and fish to be had for the catching.

Verily God had been good to us when we came into
the New World, and so deeply was this fact impressed
upon us all, that when Father White, in the midst of
the deliberations, proposed that thanks be humbly given
for all the blessings showered upon us far beyond our
deserts and our hopes, every man fell on his knees with-
out delay.

THE SUSQUEHANOUGHS

After this, and while the company were conversing,
one or another expressed surprise because these brown-
skinned men had been so ready and willing to abandon
their village for our comfort, giving up at small price
the fields already planted, whereupon Captain Fleet,
who had been called into the council, gave us a key to
the seeming mystery, at the same time declaring that
what seemed like ill fortune to the Indians was greatly
to their advantage.

It seems that near by, I cannot say how far away, live

72

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Other brown-skinned men who belong to a tribe called
Susquehanoughs, and these Indians are enemies to
those of Yaocomico. More than once already had war
parties come into the land, kilHng and carrying away as
slaves these peaceful savages of ours, so said Captain
Fleet, and just before we sailed up the Chesapeake Bay,

it had been decided by the brown men of Yaocomico
that they would leave this village, which we have bought,
and move to some other place, where they might the
better defend themselves from the bloodthirsty Sus-
quehanoughs.

It caused me no litde discomfort of mind to hear that
there were in the land savages who, instead of being
peacefully inclined like those we had already met, were
given to making war, and T (luestioned whether, on

A LAND OF ABUNDANCE 73

learning that the people of Yaocomico had moved away,
they might not attack us.

But this possibility did not appear to have any weight
with our people, at least, not so far as I could see during
this evening when we were thus assembled in the great
cabin of the Ark, for they treated with seeming indif-
ference the information given concerning the warlike
tribe, and all the gentlemen, including my father, acted
as if to them it was a matter of little importance what
the Susquehanoughs might try to do.

Mayhap I am giving too many words to the story of
these brown men whom we found in our Province of
Maryland ; but he who reads must remember that we
had come a small company as compared with the num-
ber of natives, to build up new homes, and were, one
might say, defenseless in event of a war with the savages.

Such being the case, and knowing that all our future
well-l:)eing depended in a great measure upon these
same Indians, it is little wonder that I dwell upon them,
for to us, however indifferent our gentlemen might ap-
pear, what these savages did, or tried to do, was of great
moment.

A LAND or ABUNDANCE

It was while such thoughts as these were passing
through my mind, that Captain Fleet entertained the

74 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

company by telling of the abundance of the land, ex-
plaining that even though the harvest failed us, we had
on every hand sufficient to feed all the people of the
great city of London, and yet leave untasted as much
again.

There were wild fowl on the waters of the bay, or in
the rivers, so plentiful that a man might go out, if so be
he was not niggardly with shot and powder, and fill a
shallop in one day's hunting.

Fish were to be had for the catching, and in such
quantities that a single person could feed all our com-
pany, and yet not overwork himself.

Beneath the waters were to be found shellfish called
oysters, and exceeding sweet are they to the taste,
whether eaten raw or roasted in the coals, as I already
knew, having that same day feasted upon the savory
meat until I could eat no more.

I>arge, round, green reptiles or fish called crabs, with
many legs and most disagreeable to look upon, yet when
boiled, turning to a bright red, and yielding flesh of a
sweet flavor very pleasing to the palate, also could be
had in plenty.

Pigeons in the woods, as I have already set down,
were of such numbers that when a flock flies over one's
head, it shields him from the rays of the sun even as does
the night, and Captain Fleet assured us most positively
that he had seen a flight of these birds which darkened

A LAND OF ABUNDANCE

75

the light of day for more than two hours in the
passing. And as for other wild fowl, at that very mo-
ment we had on the table in the great cabin a huge

bird which the cook of the
Ark had roasted brown, un-
til the skin crackled pleas-
antly between one's teeth.

All these were to
be had for the shoot-
ing; these and birds
and animals of every
kind, until, if you had
heard Captain Fleet
holding forth that
night, you would have | ' \

believed we had but

to reach out our hands to ' gather in all that was
palatable and dainty in the way of eatables.

Nor did he strain the truth in thus telling, for before

76 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

two days had passed our hunters proved for themselves,
that he who was hungry need not go many miles
from this village of Yaocomico in order to get all the
meat that could be eaten not only by himself but by
all our company.

BUYING CATTLE

Governor Calvert was not minded that we should put
all dependence for food upon these wild things; but
straightway the people had taken up their abode on
shore, he sent the Dove, with a sufficient crew of sea-
men, to Jamestown in Virginia, and my uncle, repre-
senting our governor, there bought six yoke of oxen,
fourteen cows, no less than thirty pigs, and a large flock
of poultry, bringing the live stock back to us at St.
Mary's without loss.

I may as well confess here, that even though I had
had no home in England when my father was elsewhere,
it required I should exert all my will to prevent a certain
feeling of homesickness, despite the fact that we had
come to a land which was so fair, and had found the
savages so friendly. That I was so far away from all
those whom I had known since it was possible to re-
member faces, caused- a pain at my heart such as I can-
not describe.

Save for my father, my uncle, and John, it seemed

BUYING CATTLE

77

as if there was no one in all the world of America who
stood near me, and when I laid myself down at night
upon one of those Indian beds made of saplings,
I could not prevent the tears from overflowing my
eyelids.

And now let him who will laugh at me; but yet it
remains true, that when these cattle, with the swine and

fowls, were brought to our town of St. Mary's, my sick-
ness for home was more than half banished.

To hear the cocks crowing in the morning, even as I
had heard them in England, or to listen to the lowing
of the cows as they stood patiently waiting to be relieved
from their burden of milk, was soothing to such a de-
gree that straightway, and for the first time, did I feel
as if I had really come to my home.

78

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

STOREHOUSE AND FORT

Because of the great number of trees to be found just
outside the village, and also owing to the fact that the
Indians were so eager to render assistance in whatso-
ever way they might, the building of the fort and of
the storehouse was a short task. It seemed to me as if
the work was no sooner begun, than it was finished.

The fortification was neither more nor less than a
palisade or high fence of logs, one hundred and twenty
yards square, within which were mounted one heavy
and six small guns, at such points as were most conven-
ient to command the surrounding country.

A VISITOR FROM VIRGINIA 79

This palisade was made l)y digging a trench four feet
deep in the ground, and planting therein heavy logs
twelve or fifteen feet in height, after which the earth was
pounded down solidly until they stood fairly secure.
Then roughly hewn planks were nailed along the top
of the timbers to hold them yet more firmly in place.

Around this fence on the inside, at such a height that
a man standing thereon could look over the top, was a
rude platform built of puncheon pianks, where defenders
of the fortification, if so be we came to battle with the
Indians, might stand. Here also were placed the guns
of which I have spoken.

The storehouse was simply a hut of logs laid length-
wise, as a child builds a house of faggots, and notched
at the ends to hold them in place, with mats of reeds,
woven by the Indians, laid over the roof to prevent the
rain from entering between the timbers.

A VISITOR FROM VIRGINIA

Before this work of building was completed, we were
surprised and considerably startled by the approach of a
small ship, which was not seen until the discharge of the
cannon on board brought us all up standing, and aquiver
with excitement and fear. But when the standard of
old England was unfurled from the masthead of the
stranger, we no longer trembled, but were in a fever of

8o CALVERT OF MARYLAND

unrest to learn whether these visitors came from the land
we had left, perhaps forever.

In a few moments, however, we knew it was Sir John
Harvey, governor of the Province of Virginia, whom
our gentlemen had met while the Ark and the Dove lay
at Point Comfort, who was come to pay us a friendly
visit, which to my mind was most kind of him.

Even before our people could go out to give
him welcome, a fleet of canoes came around
the northerly point of the harbor, bearing a

vast company of savages, and I was perplexed to
decide whether there might be any relation between
these two bands of visitors.

Then the cannon on the vessel from Virginia roared
out a salute, and in a short time it was whispered among
us that Governor Harvey was killing two birds with one
stone, so to speak, by making an agreement to meet the
werowance of Patuxent at the same time that he paid us
a friendly courtesy.

Governor Calvert went on board the ship in company

A TALK WITH THE INDIANS 8t

with all our gentlemen and Captain Fleet. The canoes
were moored alongside the vessel, and the werowance,
with a dozen or more of his chief men, also boarded her.

A TALK WITH THE INDIANS

Now as to what took place in the cabin of Governor
Harvey's ship, I am not able to say ; but John declared
that it was what might be called a council of war, even
though no war was threatened.

The chief of Patuxent was a big man among the
savages of our Province of Maryland, and, as we heard
later. Governor Harvey had thought fitting to explain
to him that we who had settled at St. Mary's counted on
being friendly with the brown-skinned people.

Captain Fleet told these Indians that the governor of
Maryland was a brother to the "great man of all,"
meaning Lord Baltimore, who was to come into the
province later, and that we of Yaocomico were the only
ones who would be allowed to trade with the natives
from that time forth, intending, most like, to let them
understand that the settlers of Kent Island, of whom I
shall speak later, had no right whatsoever within the
bounds of the gift which his Majesty had made Lord
Baltimore.

Governor Harvey and the werowance of Patuxent re-
mained four days, living on board the Dove ; and while

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 6

82

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

they were with us the fortification and the storehouse
were finished, whereupon Governor Calvert decided
that the savages should understand how grave a matter
was the taking possession of the province.

RUNNING UP THE COLORS

To that end the Maryland colors, which are the quar-
terings of Lord Baltimore's coat-of-arms, were brought

on shore with great ceremony, all our gentlemen at-
tending in their gayest costumes.

It was a great show when our people, having previ-
ously gone out to the Dove, came to shore in the small

RUNNING UP THE COLORS 83

shallop, the pinnace, and the ship's tenders, with drums
beating and flags flying.

Lastly came Governor Calvert, Governor Harvey,
the werowance of Patuxent, and the chief of the Indians
of Yaocomico, our people standing in orderly array
along the shore until these officials had landed, when
the line of march was taken up to the fort, and all
entered, grouping themselves around the tall tree
which had been trimmed of its branches to serve as a
flagstaff.

Then, amid the rattle of musketry and the roll of the
drums, Maryland's colors were run up, while our people
stood with uncovered heads, and Father White blessed
the flag, after which all the big guns of the fleet roared
out a salute.

That evening, so John told me, the werowance of
Patuxent warned the Indians of Yaocomico that they
should keep carefully to the bargain that they had
made with the white people, saying by way of
caution : —

"When we shoot, our bowstrings give a twang that
is heard but a little way off; but do you not hear
what cracks their bowstrings give?"

He meant, when speaking of the "cracks of our bow-
strings," the reports of the muskets and cannon as com-
pared with the twanging of sinews when an arrow is
let fly.

84

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

SETTLING DOWN

After Sir John Harvey returned to Jamestown, and
the brown men from Patuxent had gone to their homes,
we of St. Mary's settled down on shore, giving all our
attention to planting, knowing how important it was we
should make ready for the winter, when it might not
be so convenient to get meat from the forest or the bay.
The brown people of the village did more than hold to
the bargain they had made. The men labored with

our men in the fields, and the
women showed our maid serv-
ants how to prepare corn
after the Indian fashion,
and how to cook with-
out a fireplace and
without such pots
and pans as they
had at home, until
it was as if brown
men and white had
decided to dwell

^^.

together

as one

family.

And now before I try to tell you how the household
duties were performed, and how our gentlemen set

MASTER WILLIAM CLAIBORNE 85

about making an orderly town of tliis Indian settle-
ment, let me speak of those English who had settled on
Kent Island, and I beg that you read carefully in order
to understand well the situation, for it was those same
settlers who caused the first bloodshed in our Province
of Maryland.

MASTER WILLIAM CLAIBORNE

In the year of grace, 1625, one William Claiborne of
England, who had come to America to survey the land
for the Virginia Company, was made Secretary of State
in the province governed by that company.

Two years later, which is as if I had said in the year
1627, Governor Yeardley, who was then ruler over
Virginia, gave this same William Claiborne a license to
trade with the Indians in the bay of Chesapeake, and so
successful was he in such venture that, going to England,
he interested a London merchant in the undertaking,
who advanced to him a sufficient amount of money to
carry on the traffic in a large way.

In the year of grace, 1631, which, as you must
remember, was two years before my Lord Baltimore
sent out the Ark and the Dove, this William Clai-
borne, with the London merchant as partner, got a
commission from King Charles I of Scotland, which
gave him permission to trade in all parts of New

86 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

England and Nova Scotia where others were not then
trading.

Now a full year before our company sailed from Lon-
don, William Claiborne had built a home upon the
island of Kent, which is, as you know, many miles up
the bay from the mouth of the river Potomac. He
bought from the Indians the land of that island, and
with the pinnaces and many canoes, carried on a large
business among the brown -skinned men in that portion
of the New World.

You will do well to keep in mind that all this was
done before we of Lord Baltimore's company left Lon-
don, and also to remember what I have set down con-
cerning the gift which his Majesty made to the old lord,
for that covered all the land extending north from Vir-
ginia and on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, includ-
ing the peninsula on the eastern shore.

LORD Baltimore's claims

This, so my Lord Baltimore claimed, entitled him not
only to the country on both sides of the bay, but, as a
matter of course, to the islands therein; therefore,
this plantation of Kent, which William Claiborne had
bought from the Indians, was clearly within the limits
of our Province of Maryland.

Because there was much money to be made by buy-

LORD BALTIMORE'S CLAIMS

§7

ing furs of the Indians, paying for them in trinkets
bought at small prices in England, our Governor Cal-
vert was not inclined to sit idly by while this William
Claiborne, and the merchant who was his partner, made
large profits that clearly belonged to the Calvert family.

It was this London merchant, partner of William
Claiborne, who was making so much trouble in Eng-
land for our own Lord Baltimore, that he could not
sail on the Ark with us, but was forced to remain at
home that he might care for his
just rights.

Therefore it was, that no
sooner had our visitors departed
than Governor Calvert sent in
the Dove my father and two
other gentlemen to the island of
Kent, to give notice to William
Claiborne that his plantation
belonged to the Province of
Maryland, and that he must
cease trading with the savages
until after having made some
kind of bargain with those
who really owned the land.

This man Claiborne, instead
of agreeing that his purchase of land from the Indians
did not give him any lawful right to it, pretended, and

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

•

with some shadow of claim, so it is said, that he was
acting under orders of the Governor of Virginia, and
should therefore continue as he had been doing.

But we of St. Mary's were too busy at that time to
teach Master Claiborne the lesson he needed, it beini{
necessary that we should get our seed in the ground, set
about building houses which would afford better shelter
than the huts given us by the Indians, and also fit out a
small pinnace as a trading vessel, for during these first
years the only money we could earn was by following
the example set by the Englishmen on Kent Island.

STIRRING UP THE INDIANS

As was soon seen, however, it would have been better
had all the work been put aside, in order to show this
William Claiborne what was due my Lord Baltimore,
for straightway my father and the other gentlemen had
departed from Kent Island, he set about poisoning the
minds of the savages against us, by saying we were
Spaniards, who had come to make them slaves, and
declaring that all the words of friendship our people
had spoken were false.

This we understood with good proof later; but at
the time when the Indians of Yaocomico village sud-
denly left us, disappearing in the wilderness without
giving any reason, we knew as a matter of course that

STIRRING UP THE INDIANS 89

some person had been at work among them, and it
was only natural to suspect Master Claiborne.

Two days later, however, it was more than sus-
picion that filled our minds, for then Captain Fleet
sailed away in the direction of Kent Island in his
vessels, without having obtained permission from
Governor Calvert.

Within a week the werowance of Patuxent told us
that this same Captain Fleet, who had so lately pro-
fessed such great friendship for us, had joined him-
self with William Claiborne, and was doing all he might
to persuade the Indians to rise against the people of
St. Mary's.

It can well be fancied this news caused our people
much alarm, for should the savages become persuaded
that we were at St. Mary's with the intent of making
them slaves, there might arise such a war as would
wipe us from off the face of the earth.

At the time I believed, as did John, that we should
strengthen the fort, gather into it all our provisions
and weapons, and otherwise make such a show of force
as would give the Indians to understand we were
prepared for whatsoever they might attempt.

It was well, however, that neither John nor I had any
voice in the government of St. Mary's, else might we
have brought about that very thing we were trying to
avoid.

90

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

WINNING BACK THE INDIANS

Governor Calvert and our gentlemen showed them-
selves wise by not striving to dispute the falsehoods
told by Captain Fleet and Master Claiborne. Instead
of so doing, they continued the work which had been
begun, as if there was nothing to cause alarm, and every
now and then, when a single Indian came among us,
most likely to spy out what we might be doing, he
was treated with the greatest friendliness, being
allowed to wander whithersoever he would.

It is true, however, that the fort .was strengthened

by the building of a
blockhouse to be used
in case of necessity;
but other than that
nothing of a warlike
nature could be seen
within our settlement.
In order to show
that we were uncon-
cerned as to whether
or no the brown-
skinned men visited us ,
Governor Calvert caused to be fitted out with goods for
barter the small pinnace which had been hired from the

"^■•ow...

WINNING BACK THE INDIANS

91

people of Virginia, send-
ing it up the bay and the
rivers for the purpose ot
trading, giving to those
who had furs for
sale a better price
than had been paid
by Claiborne.

Although it was
late in the season
when our pinnace
was sent out, she brought
back within a month two
hundred ninety-eight
beaver skins, fifty-three
muskrat hides, and sev-
enteen other pelts. -^^^

It was not much, even as a beginning, for, so we
learned from the savages, William Claiborne and Cap-
tain Fleet had in the meanwhile bought no less than
three thousand beaver skins, which made our number
seem exceeding trivial.

That which we did, however, served well Governor
Calvert's purpose, since by keeping to ourselves, bar-
gaining fairly with the Indians, and living up to the
bargain that had been made with those of Yaocomico,
the brown-skinned people came to understand that the

92 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

men of Kent Island had spoken with a double
tongue, meaning that they had said what was false, for
within six weeks all the Indians who had abandoned
us came back, showing quite as much friendliness as
before.

BUSY TIMES

From this on, until the year was come to an end,
all of us at St. Mary's, governor, gentlemen, and serv-
ing men, found work enough -with which to employ
our hands during every hour of daylight. We had
begun to build houses, cutting timber into planks
and boards by long, heavy saws with a handle at either
end.

In order to do this last, the trunk of a tree was raised
on uprights some distance from the ground, beneath
which one man stood pulling down the saw, while
another, on top of the log itself, did his portion of the
work.

Also during the summer was the Dove sent again
and again to Jamestown, returning therefrom with
bricks, lime, clapboards, and such like material as
would be needed for the houses.

Then there were the crops to be gathered, and much
hunting done in order that we might have meat during
the cold season.

BUSY TIMES

93

The task of curing venison fell upon the younger
members of the company, of which I was one, and we
did it in Indian fashion, first
cutting the meat into strips,
then drying the strips in the
sun, and afterward smoking
the same freely.

It was not pleasing work,
and more than once would I
have fretted at being set about
such menial labor, but that
I remembered it was for the
future good of us all, and that
I should do my share toward
providing for our people who
were striving to build up Lord
Baltimore's Province of Mary-
land.

It is needless for me to
set down all that which we
did, making mention of every
task, for he who reads can
easily understand what it
would be necessary for a com-
pany of men and boys to do
who had gone into the wilderness, there to build a
town in which to spend the remainder of their days.

94 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Before we were well come to an end of the season's
work, and while saying to ourselves that there was no
longer any fear that evil-minded men might set the
brown-skinned people against us, word was brought
that William Claiborne had begun to arm one of his
pinnaces for the purpose of declaring war upon us, by
preventing our own trading vessels from sailing up
the bay.

This news disturbed John and me not a little; but
Governor Calvert and our gentlemen paid little heed
to it, so far as I could see, except that they met during
two or three evenings, on board the Dove, where it
was said a formal council of war was held.

As the season wore on, the white and the brown -
skinned people in our town of St. Mary's grew to be
fast friends, until there was no longer fear that such
as Captain Fleet and William Claiborne could stir
up trouble between them.

INDIAN WOMEN AS SERVANTS

There had come in our company as maids, three
or four women, who were wives of the serving men;
but so far as caring for the houses of the gentlemen,
they were of little use, not understanding how to do a
housewife's duty with none of the English conveniences
at hand.

INDIAN WOMEN AS SERVANTS

95

Therefore it was that the Indian women had taken
it upon themselves to do the work of servants, not
thinking it beneath them, and very well ordered under
such hands were our
homes, save, per-
haps, not kept in
as cleanly a fashion
as one could have
desired. The huts
we were then living
in could not be so
orderly as houses
built of wood or of stone, for with the bare ground as
floor, on which must be laid everything not in use,
owing to the absence of closets and pantries, it was
impossible for the hard-working savages to do exactly
as our gentlemen would have them.

Mayhap an English housewife would have said we
lived in a slovenly fashion ; but to my thinking, we were
as cleanly lodged and fed as we had been on shipboard.

The woman who took charge of our home, cooking
the food for my uncle, my father, and myself, had two
boys nearly my own age, and with them, when there
was no work on hand requiring my time, I wandered
afoot through the green forests, until I came to know
every path and trail, even as one knows the lanes and
byways of his English home.

96 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

MAKING A CANOE

These lads led me to where their people were making
canoes in preparation for that time when, according to
the bargain, they were to leave their village of Yaoco-

mico to find a home elsewhere.

♦

Never before had I believed it possible for people
to build such seaworthy boats with much the same
as no tools !

Imagine, if you can, two men setting about to form
a canoe, — meaning a light boat capable of carrying
three, four, or ten men, — out of a huge tree trunk fifteen
or twenty feet long, having nothing with which to work
save hatchets of stone, and fire.

To white people, who have every kind of an imple-
ment necessary for the hewing and fashioning of wood,
such a task seems impossible, and yet I have known
two of these brown-skinred men to build a canoe
eighteen feet long, buoyant enough to carry ten people,
and of pleasing shape, within two weeks' time.

Would you know how it was done? Well, in this
way: First, as a matter of course, these boat builders
seek out such a tree as will best suit their purpose, and,
having found it, they wrap around the trunk a quantity
of dried grass and wild flags that have been thoroughly
wetted. Just above these wrappings they kindle

MAKING A CANOE

97

little fires by binding on dried grass, and as the tiny
flame eats into the wood they chip away the charred
portion with their axes of stone, working industriously,

J %

and with as little effect as does a woodpecker, until,
in course of time, say, perhaps half a day, a huge tree
falls to the ground.

Then, if so be a boat is to be made twenty feet long,
that length is marked off, and the tree cut again in
precisely the same manner as at first. Now you have

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 7

gS CALVERT OF MAR\'LAND

a log of wood, the ends of which are rough and
charred.

The bark is pulled off, and on the top, extending
the whole length, are built a number of tiny fires, the
workmen chip-chip-chipping with their awkward stone
tools as fast as the blaze has blackened the wood, until
in a week's time they have cut off the upper portion of
the log to fashion the top of the canoe, and hollowed
it out till it is no more than an inch in thickness.

After that, all remaining to be done is to work the
two ends, by means of fire and these same awkward
axes, into such form as pleases the eye, and then is
finished a boat as readily handled, by those who are
skilled in sailing such craft, as the fanciful vessels
to be seen on the river Thames.

A BOAT OF BARK

The brown-skinned people have another kind of
boat which requires much skill in the management,
lest it be overset ; and so light is one even fourteen or
sixteen feet in length, that I may readily carry it on
my shoulder.

It is made from the bark of the white birch tree,
which does not grow here in abundance, but is found
farther away, in that land bordering on the Dutch
settlements.

INDIAN MONEY 99

I have never seen one made; 1)ut the Indian lads
tell me that it is a task that may l)e performed even
by one who has not had much experience, since it
remains only to give shape to the canoe by means of
thin ribs, or strips of wood, no thicker than the cloth
of my doublet, which are attached to a light frame-
work that forms what you would call the gunwale of
the vessel.

When these thin strips, bent to the required form
by being held in the steam of boiling water, have been
fastened to the rail, or, in other words, to pieces which
liave been shaped like unto a couple of bows brought
together with the bent parts outward, one covers this
framework, or skeleton, with bark of the birch tree,
fastening it in place by sewing with the sinew of the
deer, and afterward covering the holes made by the
needles, and the edges where two pieces of bark are
set together, with pitch from the fat pine tree.

Then, across the rails are fastened light, narrow
strips of wood, which serve not only the purpose of
thwarts, or seats, but also form handles by which to
carry the craft.

INDIAN MONEY

When we first came to this land, and T heard our
people talking of trading with the Indians, it was in

lOO

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

my mind that the Ijrown-skinned men had nothing
among them which would answer the purpose of gold
and silver money; but before we had been here many
days I discovered my mistake, and already do we count

the value cf an article in the Indian way, which is to
say, that a beaver skin is worth so many strings of
wampum.

And now what is wampum?

It is the money of the Indians, and odd money, too,
being neither more nor less than tiny beads ; not such
as we have brought over for barter, but cut from a
certain kind of seashell, and of a particular color.
Some are taken from conchs, and are pure white;
others from the thick portion of the quahaug that has

A GENEROUS HARVEST loi

been cast up from the deep sea, and is deep purple in
shade.

I cannot say of what other shells wampum is made ;
but there are several kinds, and so rare that when these
money-makers seek them on the seacoast beyond
Point Comfort, they may not find above a dozen in
a week's search.

When a certain kind of shell has been found, it
becomes necessary to fashion the desired parts into
beads, and this, if you can imagine it, is done first by
chipping with stones, and then by drilling the holes
with a splinter of flint fastened to a stick of wood,
after which the beads are strung on thin strips of deer
hide.

I have seen a wampum maker spend nearly three
hours drilling a hole through a single bead, which serves
to show how valuable in the eyes of the savages must
be these seeming trinkets.

A GENEROUS HARVEST

It would astonish an English farmer to see how
lavishly everything grows here in this land of America.
We did nothing toward enriching the soil when our
corn was planted, and yet the harvest was so great
as to astonish every one, save the savages who were
accustomed to such generous bounty from the earth.

I02

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Not only did we gcather of corn, from the fields which
the brown-skinned man had planted and from those
which we ourselves put under cultivation, as much
as would serve our entire company a full year, how-
ever generous they might be in the use of it, but we
had fifteen hundred bushels to spare.

The storehouse which we had built was all too small
to contain this bountiful supply, and our people cast
about to know what might be done with it.

Governor Calvert sent a message to the people at
Jamestown, asking if it would please them to buy corn

from us in payment of the
goods we had already pur-
chased from them, and the
reply came back that the set-
tlers of Virginia had ample
store and to spare, therefore
we could not hope to dispose
oF the grain near at home.
Then it was my uncle pro-
posed that the Dove Lc
laden with a thousand
bushels of corn, and sent
to those Englishmen who
had settled in Plymoutli,
for, so some of tlic peo[)lc in Virginia said, the harvest
at that place had been scanty, therefore it would l^e

^Jm^Y^^^^ ■

TROUBLE AT PLYMOUTH 103

a deed of charity, as well as a matter of business, to
send there the grain which we ourselves could not use,
trusting that those settlers would be willing to pay
a fair price either in money, wampum, or goods.

This plan seemed to Governor Calvert a good one,
and once the Dove was fully laden, which is to say
when we had put one thousand bushels of corn in her,
Christopher Marten was chosen to act as merchant
in selling the cargo.

He, together with the crew of the pinnace, set sail
without delay, bearing letters to Master Winthrop
of Plymouth, to the effect that we of Maryland were
eager to open trade between the provinces.

TROUBLE AT PLYMOUTH

It was near to two months before we got news from
our venture, and then it was not of the kind to please us.

I know not all the details of the unfortunate happen-
ings, because they were kept to a certain degree secret ;
but John, who has a successful way of picking up
gossip, has told me this much: —

It appears, according to his story, that the strait-
laced people in Plymouth did not give to the crew
of the pinnace as hearty a welcome as they believed
should have been accorded them, and our people,
having drunk too large a quantity of strong waters

I04 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

with certain seamen of Massachusetts Bay, behaved
themselves unseemly, being disorderly in the streets
and uttering many oaths in public.

At the same time Christopher Marten was taken
sorely sick with a fever, and therefore unable to re-
strain the seamen, who speedily quarreled with certain
of the Puritans. The result was that the Plymouth
people put INIaster Marten under arrest that he might
be answerable for the appearance of the men for
punishment, if it should be decided by the magistrates
that a serious offense had been committed.

All this, however, did not prevent the sale of the grain
at a fair price, and by the time the Dove^s cargo had
been taken out and the master of the pinnace paid
therefor, Christopher Marten was dead.

When he was no longer on earth, the magistrates
of Plymouth had much their own way, and our seamen
were laid under such heavy lines for using oaths on
the streets, as well as for assaulting some of the people,
that it would have been better had we kept our corn
at home.

That which served to make bad blood twixt us of
Maryland and the people of Plymouth was, that after
due trial, the magistrates decided there was not sufficient
proof against our seamen for punishment in prison,
yet at the same time did they lay such fines as seemed
to us much too great, and there was no little talk among

A STRANGE RELIGIOUS SERVICE

105

US of St. Mary's, when the Dove returned, as to the
sharp practices of those Englishmen in the Massa-
chusetts Province.

A STRANGE RELIGIOUS SERVICE

^Au

Before I come to that part
of my story relating to the
war which did break out
between us and William
Claiborne of Kent Island, I
am minded to tell you
of a queer religious ser-
vice that I saw among
the Indians of Yaoco-
mico shortly after the
harvest.

On a certain day one
of the brown-skinned
lads came to me with
much secrecy, saying
that his people were
about to have their an-
nual corn and fire dance,
and asking if I would go
with him to see it.
There is little need for

io6 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

me to say that I much the same as jumped at such a
chancC; and after gaining permission from my father to
be absent from home until late in the night, the lad
and I set out through the forest to a certain place not
above five miles distant from St. INIary's, where we
found more than four hundred brown men, women,
and children gathered as if to take part in some
festival.

Now to understand better what I saw, you must
bear in mind that these savages worship one God,
as do we who are Christians, and they also make
offerings to an evil spirit whom they call Okee, believ-
ing it is necessary to do so in order to prevent harm
from coming to them.

While believing there is but one God who rules
over everything, they pay homage to a lot of little
gods, such as Corn, Fire, and Water, all of which are
in some way, I cannot understand well how, supposed
to have an influence upon their lives, and in
honor of which they dance at certain times of the
year.

It is an odd kind of faith, and the longer I puzzle
over it the less clear does it appear; but I am
bound to admit that these brown-skinned people
strive to si^rve faithfully all these little gods.

Now this festival, or religious service, or whatso-
ever you may call it, to which I had Ijeen invited, was

A STRANGE RELIGIOUS SERVICE

107

<^i\en in honor of Corn,
most like because our
harvest had been so
plentiful.
When we were come
to the meeting-place, we found a great fire feeding upon a
stack of tree trunks that had been thrown up as high as
the foremast of the Dove, and around this, forming com-
plete circles, were all the people, with the children nearest
the burning wood, and the elders in the outer rows.

Save for the crackling of the flames, the silence was
profound when the Indian lad and I came up. All the
people were sitting facing the fire, immovable as statues,
and I gazed intently at them a full two minutes without
seeing so much as a hand lifted or a head turned. I am
not overly timorous ; but there came what was much like
a chill along my spine as I gazed at the motionless
brown people, many of whom were painted most hide-
ously, and save that the Indian lad would know of
my faint-heartedness, I should have fled homeward.

io8 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

THE DANCE BEGINS

Then it was from some far-away place in the forest,
or so it seemed, that the voices of men chanting, with
but little of music in their tones, could be heard, and
this noise came nearer and nearer, until, from amid the
trees, we could see fifteen or twenty savages hopping
and skipping along, dressed in most ridiculous fashion,
as if they were taking part in some foolish revel.

One had affixed to his head a set of deer's antlers,
and covering his face was a mask of most hideous
design, while hanging from his body were long strips
of hide, with beads of metal at the end which tinkled
like a bell when he danced.

Another bristled all over with feathers that stood
upright, both before and behind, until he was like some
huge bird, from the midst of which two hands could
be seen, holding thin bands of copper which he struck
together sharply, producing a ringing sound.

Others were dressed all in skins to represent animals,
while some came out naked save for a short skirt or
apron around their waists, and their bodies covered
with vivid red and yellow paint.

It was a most comical, and, at the same time, to me,
frightful procession which came thus slowly dancing
and leaping, with many contortions of the body, from

AN ODD CEREMONY 109

out the foliage, and those brown-skinned people
around the fire still sat like statues, giving no heed to
the band of mummers until they had come to the outer-
most row where were the older men.

AN ODD CEREMONY

Here the hideous figures halted, and, after much
chattering in the Indian language, a huge piece of
tallow, taken from a deer, w^as given solemnly into
the hands of the oldest Indian, who held it alqft where
all might see, making his way carefully through the
throng until he was come to where sat half a dozen
naked boys, whose bodies were striped and spotted
with yellow paint.

With the deer's tallow still held above his head, he
spoke during perhaps half a minute in gravest tones,
whereupon the lads arose, took the lump from him,
and advanced so near the flames that it seemed as if
their bodies must be scorched, after which they threw
the fatty burden into the fire.

At this moment all the people arose, raising their
hands as they swayed their bodies to and fro, crying
in a low, not unmusical tone: —

"Taho! Taho!"

This they continued to do for perhaps two or three
minutes, and then the people fell back from the huge

no CALVERT OF MARYLAND

bonfire, leaving a broad space all around it, into
which a company of small girls and boys marched,
carrying pipes and bags filled with the herb called

tobacco, singing in
the meanwhile the
same words : —
'^Taho! Taho!"
After this the
oldest men came
into the circle, and
tlie children gave
to them the pipes,
whereupon they
filled them with the
herb, lighted the
^^§iWi\F' same by taking

coals from the fire,
and drew the smoke through reeds which were stuck
into the side of little bowls of clay that formed the
pipe. This smoke they breathed out over the bodies
of the little ones, all the people swaying to and fro as
if dancing, while they chanted in what seemed to me
most doleful tones the one word: —
"Taho!"

How long this was continued I cannot say; but it
was to me as if the Indian lad and I remained a full
half hour, and still the vast throng was moving here

WILLIAM CLAIBORNE'S WAR iii

and there like some gigantic serpent. Without raising
their feet from the ground, the people swayed their
bodies from side to side until I was like to have that
same sickness in the stomach which beset me on the
ocean, when the vessel rolled to and fro upon the
heavy waves.

Asking the lad, as best I might, since he spoke but
few words of English and I knew less of his language,
what would come after they were tired of thus writhing
back and forth, he gave me to know that it was a dance
which would be kept up so long as the people had
strength to carry it on, and I, not minded to watch
longer, insisted on going back to St. Mary's.

WILLIAM Claiborne's war

It was during this winter, at the very time when we
were saying to ourselves that of a verity had no other
people come into this new v^orld of America having
so little to disturb their minds as had we of Maryland,
that trouble came to us.

Save for that unseemly happening at Plymouth,
when the Englishmen living on Massachusetts Bay
must have come to believe that we wxre veritable
ruffians, because of the behavior of the crew of the
Dove, which caused us no little disturbance of mind,
we had had no portion of trouble. The very land

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

seemingly had welcomed us ; the savages whom
William Claiborne and Captain P'leet would have
stirred up against us, were become our firmest friends;
and the land and the water had yielded us stores
until there was no fear of suffering from lack of food.
Therefore it was much like a shaft of lightning from
out a cloudless sky, when our people who had been
sent in the pinnace to
trade with the Indians
on the shores of the bay
north of us, came to
St. Mary's with the

report that William Claiborne was arming his
largest pinnace with all the heavy guns at his com-

WILLIAM CLAIBORNE'S WAR 113

inand, counting to sail against us in enmity until our
governor should enter into an agreement allowing the
people of Kent Island to trade whithersoever they
pleased.

xA.t first this news was received by us with scorn,
and more than one said to those on the pinnace who
had brought the tidings, that they were dreaming;
that no man in his right senses would declare war
against a company which outnumbered him three or
four to one.

Then when our seamen and traders protested
that they had not only heard all this from the
savages, but had seen William Claiborne's people at
work arming the pinnaces, came the question as to
how many there might be of Englishmen at that time
living on Kent Island, and we were startled at learn-
ing how strong a force this trader might bring against
us.

Governor Calvert had made careful inquiries, both
at Jamestown and along the shores of the bay among
friendly savages, until he learned very much of the
history of this settlement.

Now, because this war which William Claiborne
was declaring against us did result in bloodshed, and
because Kent Island settlement was the only thorn
in our flesh, it is well that I set dovv^n in detail all
the information which came to us concerning those

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 8

114

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

people who had settled upon land belonging to my
Lord Baltimore.

THE SETTLEMENT ON KENT ISLAND

In the year of grace, 1 631, as I have already written,
William Claiborne, who was at that time counted a
member of the Virginia Colony, and one of its officers,

brought from England seventeen servants which he
settled on Kent Island, providing them with, among
other things necessary, thirty cows, a large number
of hogs, and much poultry.

THE SETTLEMENT ON KENT ISLAND 115

Six of these servants died shortly after coming into
the New World, and Claiborne hired ten freemen from
Virginia to take their places. So large was the planta-
tion that thirty or forty men at least were needed during
the fur-trading season, which lasts from the begin-
ning of March until the end of June, for it is necessary
then to have three or four shallops or pinnaces on the
water, each armed by six or seven men. A less number,
say four or five, would run the danger of being cut off
by the Indians, as there would be no one to guard the
boats while the trading was being carried on.

Among these servants was, so John declares, the
first white woman to step foot on the land of our
province. She was Joan Young, and had been
hired to wash the men's clothes. There was also a
reader of prayers, Henry Pincke; but he broke his
leg within a month after landing, and was not of great
service, so it is said, though I am puzzled to know why
he could not have read prayers as well after his leg
was broken, as before.

At the head of this people, acting as Master Clai-
borne's lieutenant, was Arthur Ffiges.

One year later the numbers of the Kent Island settle-
ment were increased by five, and among them the first
Protestant clergyman in Maryland, the Reverend Rich-
ard James, and his wife, Gertrude.

Now at this time of which I am writing, that is to

ii6

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

say, in the year of grace, 1634, the people in Claiborne's
settlement numbered not less than fifty-two servants
and traders, not including three women and a boy who
worked in the kitchen, nor four men who acted as hog
keepers.

WE PREPARE FOR WAR

As you remember, one of our gentlemen, and eleven
serving men, died shortly after Christmas day, which
left us of St. Mary's, counting the maids as well as men,

about two hun-
dred and eighty.
Of this number,
so John told me, a
full eighty were
unable to bear
arms, and at least
half the remainder
would prove but
sorry soldiers, if it came to
Ir- warfare. Therefore were we
'^^ not so strong to oppose Wil-
liam Claiborne's attack as had at
first seemed.

When the news came that the
armed pinnace was being fitted out against us, Gov-
ernor Calvert sent two of the Yaocomico Indians up

'//.;

WE PREPARE FOR WAR 117

the bay to spy out v/hat they might concerning the
warhke preparations, and after they returned, we
had positive knowledge that at least fourteen fighting
men would sail in the small ship-of-war under com-
mand of a trader by the name of Warren, whom
Master Claiborne had elevated to the rank of lieu-
tenant.

Lord Baltimore's written instructions, when we left
England, were that every effort should be made to
steer clear of quarrels ; that the Indians, wherever we
met them, should be treated in a most friendly man-
ner, and that all white men, so long as they conducted
themselves properly, should be welcomed among us
whatsoever might be their religion.

However, in such a case as was presented to us by
the arming of the pinnace at Kent Island, it would
have been folly to make any attempt at following my
lord's instructions, so Governor Calvert argued, and
straightway all our efforts were directed toward ward-
ing off the threatened evil.

The small pinnace, which had been hired from the
people of Virginia, was strengthened to such extent
that she might carry cannon, and all our men who
could labor with an ax, were set about building an-
other vessel of about the same size, to protect the village
of St. Mary's.

Captain Thomas Cornwallis, one of our gentlemen.

ii8

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

had already been named in command of the Maryland
forces in event of such trouble as might require the
services of sol-
diers, and he it
was who
took

charge of
all these
preparations
which we were
then making.

I would you could
seen our town of St. Mary's at
this time when, after nearly a year
of peace, and happiness, and content,
save for the homesickness which assailed us at times,
we were making ready to resist an enemy who had so
suddenly appeared.

Already were many fair houses nearly built to re-
place our Indian huts. Streets had been laid out so
that in time we might take on the look of a town, and,
in fact, ever3nvhere was token of industry and advance-
ment.

When the news was brought us regarding Master
Claiborne's wicked intent, all labor, save that of ship-
building, ceased. Our people, boys as well as men,
were hurrying to and fro like ants whose home has been

THE ARMY LEAVES" ST. MARY'S 119

disturbed, hewing timbers, dragging them to a place
where the pinnace was being set in form, or overhaul-
ing the goods in the storehouse that we might come
upon the powder and shot, which had been stowed
away because we had no need of it, save when harmless
salutes were to be fired.

THE ARMY LEAVES ST. MARY'S

It was a scene of warlike activity, and yet I could
not bring myself to believe truly that blood would be
shed in this our land, until that day when, the new
boat having been launched and armed, Captain Corn-
wallis left the harbor of St. IMary's, with the flag of
Maryland flying from both vessels, in search of the
enemy who we had good reason to know was lying
near by in the bay, waiting to cut off some of our
people.

An hour before the departure of the fleet was spent in
hearing mass celebrated by Father White, and prayers
were offered up by all the good priests that God
would safeguard our people in this their time of sore
need. It was well we should thus appeal to Him whose
ear is open even to the sparrow's fall.

All our gentlemen, save Governor Calvert, had
embarked under the leadership of Captain Cornwalhs,
and you may well fancy how sad was my heart, when.

I20

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

kissing me on both cheeks ere he stepped aboard the
shallop, my father bade me hold the house as a lad

of the name of
Calvert should.

There came a
roar from the can-
non, which had
been left in the
fortification ; a
dropping of the
flag of Maryland
that floated over the storehouse, and an answering
discharge from the guns of the pinnace, as they
sailed out of the harbor, taking with them my father
and my uncle, whom, perhaps, I might never see
again.

Then, forgetting that I was left in our town of St.
Mary's to represent the honor of our family, I threw
myself upon the bed of skins, where father and I had
slept together this many a night, covering my face
lest John should see the tears of grief that rolled down
my cheeks.

It was not because of being faint-hearted that I
wept; but I put it to you whether a lad, whatsoever
his age, who sees his only kin of blood leaving him,
as might be said, alone in the wilderness, to venture
themselves amid the heat of battle, risking their lives

IN COMMAND OF THE GUARD 121

every moment, would not have given way to weakness
even as did I, and with no shame attaching to him.

IN COMMAND OF THE GUARD

I verily believe our Governor Calvert understood
what was in my heart at that time, and because of it
did he send orders that I was to be given command
of the guard that would be stationed on the northern-
most point of the harbor, across the creek, where,
later, we were to build a fort.

There, night and day until
peace was come to us once

more, would a watch be kept, that we might have
timely notice, if so be William Claiborne succeeded
in slipping past Captain Cornwallis's fleet to do an in-
jury to our town of St. Mary's.

We had no more entered upon our duties, when came
the opportunity for me to decide whether John was
in the right when he called me faint-hearted.

122 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

We had taken station on the point, the four men
assigned as guards and myself, and I had but just
announced that two only should remain on duty at
a time, to the end that those who were to serve in the
night might be able to get some sleep, when we saw
coming straight for the harbor a pinnace, which to me
had much the appearance of one of those I had seen
under the command of Captain Fleet. Because he
had joined his fortunes to those of William Claiborne,
doing us whatsoever of harm he might by telling false
stories to the Indians, he surely was to be counted
as an enemy.

The first thought in my mind was to leap into the
canoe which lay on the shore, and myself carry word
of what we had seen to the governor; but luckily I
lingered long enough, while trying to make out more
clearly the coming pinnace, to give myself time to
remember that such act would look much as if I took
advantage of the first opportunity to run from the
place of danger.

Therefore it was I sent one of the guards with all
speed, and the pinnace was not yet within musket-
shot of the shore, when Governor Calvert, with four
or five serving men, came across the harbor.

A FLAG OF TRUCE

123

A FLAG OF TRUCE

He was not long in making out that this was indeed
one of Captain Fleet's vessels, and he had but just
turned to send a servant to the fort with orders to
make ready to receive an enemy, when a white flag
was hoisted on the pinnace.

''Captain Cornwallis must have had a ferocious look
about him when he set sail, if so be he has frightened
these rebels to such an extent that they are ready to

j^^-^U'Fk4- -%-K^'^3^ '

sue for peace," the governor muttered half to himself
in a tone of satisfaction, and because we had no flag
there with which to make a signal, he went close to
the water's edge, holding up both hands, palms out-
ward, in token that he recognized the truce.

As speedily as might be thereafter, a small boat was

124 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

launched from the vessel, and, with but two oarsmen,
Captain Fleet came in to us, while his ship lay hove
to within a cable's length of the shore.

Our governor gave him but a sorry welcome, as if
receiving a traitor, and it seemed to me that this man
was neither more nor less than that, since, having
been our friend, he secretly wxnt over to the enemy.

Nothing abashed by the way he was received, Captain
Fleet asked that he might speak privately with Gov-
ernor Calvert, and the two men moved up the shore
where, although it was possible for me to keep them
in view, I was not able to overhear the conversation.

So, as to what was said during this meeting, I
know not, save as I afterward heard the story from
John, who had it by way of gossip from some of the
serving men many days later, they claiming to have
heard the governor talking with Captain Cornwallis.

I saw only that the two men talked earnestly to-
gether for upward of half an hour, when our gov-
ernor's bearing toward the visitor changed entirely and
it appeared to me as if they had become friends.

Certain it is they clasped hands when Captain Fleet
took to his boat again, and as Governor Calvert re-
turned to the fortification across the harbor, the pin-
nace sailed boldly in close to the shore under the
palisade, where she remained a good two hours, put-
ting to sea at the end of that time.

CAPTAIN FLEET REPENTS 125

CAPTAIN FLEET REPENTS

Now lest my story may not otherwise be made plain,
let me advance in the telling of it to that day when
John claimed to know what had passed between the
two gentlemen when they held the interview on the
shore.

It appears, according to the story, that Captain
Fleet, frightened, perhaps, because William Claiborne
was the same as declaring war against Lord Balti-
more, to whom the king had given the Province of
Maryland, decided it was best for him to make peace
with what appeared to be the stronger party, and
therefore came to beg pardon for having sided with
the enemy. He swore, and faithfully promised after-
ward to prove, that he had had no hand in striving to
set the Yaocomico Indians against us, and offered his
services, as well as his fleet, to us of St. Mary's.

That he succeeded in persuading Governor Calvert
as to the truth of what he said, seems positive in view
of the fact that his services were accepted in behalf
of the colony, and when he put out again from the
harbor, it was to work whatsoever of harm he might
to William Claiborne's forces.

And now what else took place during this war I
must set down as I heard it many days later, when

126

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

the mischief had been done, for we who remained in
St. Mary's saw nothing to cause alarm, nor did news
of any kind come to us until after the shedding of blood.

THE FIRST PRIZE OF WAR

The first step against William Claiborne was taken,
singularly enough, by Captain Fleet himself, who,
having left our harbor, sailed directly to the Patuxent
River, and it seemed certain he had some information
which guided him to that point, for there he found one

of Claiborne's traders
in the pinnace Long-
tail. Thomas Smith
was in command of
the vessel, and must
have been somewhat
surprised when Cap-
tain Fleet, coming
alongside, demanded
to know by what right
he was there making
ready for trade.

Smith claimed, as
did his master, that he
had license from the Virginia Company, as well as
from the king himself; but Captain Fleet would not

. THE FIRST PRIZE OF WAR 127

listen, and, with great show of severity, forced all the
crew of the trading pinnace to go on shore, refusing to
allow them a single weapon with which they might
defend themselves against the Indians or wild
beasts.

He kept the trader Smith with him, however, and,
taking the vessel in tow, made sail for St. Mary's, arriv-
ing at our town the next morning after having had the
meeting with Governor Calvert.

This was the first prize of the war, and many of our
people in St. Mary's gave themselves over to rejoicing
because of what had been done.

It appears, as I afterward heard, that the trader
Smith insisted that a boat should be sent into the Patux-
ent River to find his men, and, this done, that they
and he be sent to Kent Island.

To such request, liowever, Governor Calvert turned
a deaf ear ; but offered to send them either to Virginia
or to England, whichever pleased them, providing they
went as prisoners who had offended against the laws of
the king as well as of our Province of Maryland.

The pinnace Longtail was anchored close under the
guns of the fort, where she might be held as a prize
of war, and there were many among us who believed
that this would so dishearten the people of Kent Island
as to put an end to their trading with the brown men
contrary to the commands of Governor Calvert.

128 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

A BATTLE IS FOUGHT

Now as to what was done by Captain Cornwallis,
and those who sailed with him:

Not until our fleet had come to the Pocomoke River,
on the eastern shore of the bay, did they get sight of
Claiborne's pinnace under command of Lieutenant
Warren, when they found her ready for action, the
crew standing at quarters, and the gunners with lighted
matches in their hands, all of which went to show that
the enemy had already seen our people.

I have heard it said by those who claim to know,
that when Captain Cornwallis entered the Pocomoke
River there was no thought in his mind that a battle
would be fought, nor did he make ready to open fire,
believing Lieutenant Warren would surrender as soon
as he saw how much stronger than his force was ours.

It must have been a surprise when Claiborne's
people discharged their cannon, and with such effect
that one of our men was killed outright.

A man much less hot-headed than Captain Corn-
wallis would not have remained inactive after such
provocation. As soon as our guns could be brought
to bear upon Claiborne's pinnace, whose crew mean-
while were reloading with the utmost haste in order
to fire another volley, the cannons on both our vessels

A BATTLE IS FOUGHT

129

were discharged, Lieutenant Warren being killed
outright, as were three of his men.

The loss of life, together with the damage done the
pinnace by our fire, was so great that Claiborne's

followers had no stomach for further fighting, and
before a second volley could be let off, they had sur-
rendered.

It would have been well had they counted the cost
before beginning the battle, for then would four lives
have been saved, and surely they must have known
that it would not be possible to prevail against us
of the Province of Maryland, who were acting by
license and under the authority of his Majesty the
King.

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 9

130

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

However, it was useless after the mischief had
been done, to speak of how it might have been
prevented.

The battle, short though it had been, was fought.
The decks of the vessels were stained with blood, and
whoever was the cause of such work must in due time
pay the penalty.

THE RETURN OF THE FLEET

As may be well understood, Cap-
tain Cornwallis took possession of
the Claiborne pinnace, and within
four and twenty hours after the battle had been fought,
we who stood guard on the northern point of the harbor,
sent word into our town of St. Mary's that the Mary-
land fleet was returning with a prize.

I am pleased to say that our people, after hearing
that four human beings had been killed, over a matter
which involved only a question of money, did not give
way to rejoicing because of success.

WILLIAM CLAIBORNE'S FLIGHT 131

When Captain Cornwallis sailed into the harbor,
and the captured vessel was moored alongside the
pinnace that had been taken, in the Patuxent River
by Captain Fleet, the people of St. Mary's gathered
at the waterside, welcoming quietly those who had
returned, but giving vent to no shouts of joy nor other
tokens of victory.

It is not needed that I should set down here any-
thing regarding the meeting between my father and
myself. It had seemed to me, when he went on
board the fleet, as if he were about to stand face to
face with death, as really proved to be the case, and it
was almost as if he had come back from the grave,
when I felt his dear arms around me once more.

It was a bitter disappointment that he and I were
forced to part so soon after being reunited ; but duty
called him to the blockhouse, where a council of war
was to be held, and I could do no less than remain on
watch at the point until word should come that such
service was no longer needed.

WILLIAM Claiborne's flight

During eight and forty hours nothing was heard
concerning those people who would hold possession
of Kent Island regardless of the king's command,
even at the cost of human life, and then one of thq

132

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Patuxent Indians came in with the news that William
Claiborne had taken refuge in Jamestown, fearing lest
our Captain Cornwallis should make him prisoner.

Now you must understand that we of St. Mary's
claimed that this same William Claiborne should be
charged with all the mischief that had been done, since
even though he was one of the officers of the Province
of Virginia, he had acted in open rebellion to his king's
commands, and had, like a thief, tried to steal the
rights and privileges which belonged to the Baltimores.

As soon as these tidings had been brought in, Gov-
ernor Calvert sent my father and my uncle in the Dove
to Jamestown, that they might demand from Governor
Harvey, as rebel and traitor, the person of William
Claiborne.

Those who were of authority in Virginia refused thus

WILLIAM CLAIBORNE'S FLIGHT 133

to deliver a member of their council who had fled to
them for protection ; but agreed, however, that he,
together with the witnesses against him, should be sent
to England, and there tried for the offense he had
committed.

This, as can readily be supposed, much the same
as ended the war, and perchance those who read may
say, with a smile, that I am striving to make too much
out of little, in speaking of the quarrel as real warfare,
yet to us of St. Mary's it was a most serious matter, and
even though you judge by the loss of life as to what
name shall be given this outbreak, then may you say
it was in fact a bloody war, because out of three hun-
dred and fifty people no less than four had been killed ;
moreover twenty-two had been taken prisoners, and
one of the leaders made a fugitive.

That which to my mind caused the bloody affair to
seem the more pitiful, was that it need not have come
about had soft words first been spoken.

It is not pleasant to dwell upon such matters when
everywhere around us is so much of beauty which the
good God has permitted us to enjoy, and therefore
is it with great relief of mind that I put aside all of
sorrow and of pain, and tell you how we of Maryland
throve, and how our city of St. Mary's grew until it
was a town as fair to look upon as any you might find
of its size in England.

134

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

THE CITY OF ST. MARY S

After we were quieted down from warlike excite-
ment, and the traitor Smith had l^een permitted by

the graciousness
of our governor to
return to Kent
Island, under the
charge of two of
the Yaocomico
Indians, we set
about building a
windmill, which
was sorely needed
for the grinding of
corn.

Millstones had
been brought with
us from England,
but they proved to be of no service for such a mill as
we now put together ; therefore was one of the pinnaces
sent to Jamestown, where was found all we needed,
and straightway before planting time a fair building
was set up on that street running back of the town
which we call Mattapany, and near the creek.

This work had hardly more than been completed

THE CITY OF ST. MARY'S 135

before the governor and gentlemen decided that we
should need a water mill, as well as one driven by wind,
lest, during the summer, when the air was still, there
might be much grist that could not otherwise be ground,
and this last was set up at a point where Mill Creek
falls into the St. Mary's River.

It had been some time since decided that between
that tract of land known as the "mill lot," and the street
which we call Middle, should be laid out a square for
the establishing of a market, and shortly after the water
mill was finished, the governor and gentlemen set it
down as a law, that in this same market square should
be held each year a fair, where could be exhibited the
fruits of the ground, so that the planters might be
excited to do their best with the land.

And also at about this time was begun the building
of a church, or a chapel, as Father White called it,
to be used both Idv the Protestants and the Catholics,
where "each at his appropriate hour might offer up
a sacrifice to the Most High."

The land which was set apart for this place of wor-
ship lay on the east side of the fort, near where Middle
and Mattapany streets cross. The bricks of which
it was made were brought from Jamestown, and both
the Dove and the small pinnace were employed in
freighting them. Each man who labored, whether by
sea or in the building of the chapel, gave his time

136 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

without pay, as was right, so John said, under the
circumstances.

A CRUEL MURDER

It was while all the people who could be spared for
the labor were at work on the chapel, that we of St.
Mary's were horrified by word, passed from one to
another in whispers, that William Smith, one of the
ablest of the serving men, who had gathered for him-
self no little property before leaving England, was
lying dead upon the sand near that point which we
called Lookout, having been shot, and afterward cruelly
hacked and cut with knives.

That it was a murder there could be no question,
and that it had been done in our Province of Maryland,
where it would seem white men should dwell together
in brotherly love, because of being surrounded by the
brown-skinned people who might rise against us at
any time, caused more of horror and of fear than had
the news that the lives of four men were sacrificed to
William Claiborne's efforts to hold Kent Island against
the rights of my Lord Baltimore.

The body of poor William Smith was left lying where
it had been found, until the governor and the gentlemen
could view it according to the English laws, which forbid
the touching of a body that has been violently dealt

THE MYSTERY REMAINS UNSOLVED

137

with, until the officers have had opportunity to view all
the surroundings with the idea of gaining therefrom some
knowledge of who has committed the dreadful deed.

During the remainder of this day, and while the
mangled corpse lay so near the water that spray from
the harbor was blown upon it by the wind, we of St.
Mary's spoke to each other only in whispers, for this
thing which had come into our midst was so fearsome
that one hardly dared break the silence.

THE MYSTERY REMAINS UNSOLVED

All work in the town ceased, and men gathered
here and there in little companies awaiting some
word from our _

leaders concern-
ing the dreadful
deed, questioning,
meanwhile, as to
who among us
could have been
so wicked.

At first they
were inclined to
charge the deed upon the savages, even though William
Smith was the one among us who had ever been most
friendly w^ith the brown people.

138 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Then came the knowledge of his having been killed
by a bullet, and we knew that our Yaocomico Indians
had no firearms, save such as were useless, and, specu-
late as they might, the people could make no guess as
to who was the murderer.

Nor were the governor and our gentlemen any more
successful. There was nothing nearabout the body
which gave any clew as to how the deed had been
wrought, and when all that remained of William Smith
was brought from the point, to be buried on the land
which we called the chapel lot, where the church was
being built, the mystery was as black as ever.

Two days later, however, there was brought to the
governor a will which had been made by William
Smith within a year after we came to this Province of
Maryland, in which he directed what should be done
with his belongings, and stated that "if he should die
suddenly, and the cause be not directly known, speedy
inquiry be made, and that Nick and Marks, Irishmen
at Piny Neck, be questioned as suspicious persons."

Now it would seem as if this which William Smith
had written down when he must have had the' fear of
a violent death on his mind, would lead our people up
to the discovery of the murderer, and straightway were
the two Irishmen of whom he had spoken, taken into
custody.

Put the stories they told concerning what had been

MASTER GEORGE EVELIN 139

(lone by them during the day of the murder, were such
as could not be disproven, and despite all the efforts
of our people, nothing was ever learned concerning
the dastardly deed.

MASTER GEORGE EVELIN

It is well, perhaps, that I set down something more
concerning Kent Island, lest you come to believe that
after William Claiborne fled into Virginia, and was
from there sent by Governor Harvey to London to
answer for the crime of having begun a war against
us of Maryland, the people of this settlement were
left unheeded.

Such was not the case, however, for Claiborne's
partner in the trading enterprise, who, as you remem-
ber, was a London merchant, sent over, immediately
after hearing of the trouble into which his partner had
got himself, one George Evelin to take charge of the
property.

When he arrived, it was believed by our people that
he would make an attempt to take the same stand
concerning Lord Baltimore's rights over Kent Island,
as had William Claiborne; but instead of pursuing
buch an unwise course, he came straightway to call
upon Governor Calvert, with the result that he became
our friend instead of enemy.

140 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

Captain Cornwallis accompanied him when he
returned to Kent Island, and there the people who
had served under William Claiborne were told that
Captain Evelin counted on obeying the Governor of
Maryland, and held that the island was rightfully within
the bounds of the province which had been granted
to my Lord Baltimore.

Thus it was that, seemingly, the dispute regarding
the island was come to an end, and we of St. Mary's
believed we need have no fear that trouble would come
to us from those who were living there.

We were soon to learn, however, that even though
it appeared as if the question whether Kent Island be-
longed to us of Baltimore or to the Province of Virginia,
had been settled, there was yet trouble to grow out of
the matter, which came about as you shall see.

A FATAL ACCIDENT

First, however, and because the accident happened
at about the same time George Evelin came from Kent
Island with ill tidings, I must set it down that one of
our company, John Bryant, a serving man, who had
brought with him sufficient of money to establish himself
as a planter, was killed by the falling of a tree which
crushed him beneath it.

He had taken up land on the Mattapany road, two

A FATAL ACCIDENT 141

miles or more from our town of St. Mary's, and was
already accounted a most worthy citizen, being in-
dustrious, peaceful, and striving to improve the acres
which had been allotted him.

It was while clearing yet more land for the planting
of tobacco, that a heavy tree, thrown down by the wind
while he was hewing it, deprived him of life, thus cast-
ing a gloom over our town of St. Mary's.

As if there were many dark days in store for us, and
this was but a forerunner of trouble, George Evelin
arrived from Kent Island, having been brought in a
canoe by two friendly Indians, with word that several
of the men in his settlement were conspiring with the
Susquehanoughs and with other quarrelsome Indians,
to bring about an uprising against us of St. Mary's.

It seems, according to what I could hear on the streets,
and that which John picked up by way of gossip, that
these people, regardless of the fair words spoken when
Captain Cornwallis visited them to introduce George
Evelin as the new governor, were much opposed to
coming under the laws of our Province of Maryland,
and foolishly believed that, by continuing the course
which had been begun by William Claiborne, they
might succeed in making of the island an independent
province.

Startling and threatening as the word was that
Master Evelin had brought, our people first gave heed

142 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

to caring for the earthly remains of John Bryant, before
attempting in council to decide what should be done
regarding the mutineers.

It was the second violent death among us, and al-
though not attended with the horrors surrounding the •
taking off of William Smith, caused a deeper gloom
among us than would have been known had he died
upon a bed of sickness.

Father White, in the presence of all our people, said
over the lifeless body the prayers for the dead, and
then we followed in mournful procession to where
a second grave had been opened in the chapel yard,
amid the htter of timbers and 1)rick which were lying
around as the builders had left them.

PREPARING FOR ACTION

Immediately this was done, the governor and gentle-
men went into council to hear Master Evelin's story,
and but little time was spent in deciding upon a course
of action.

When, within the hour, the council had come to
an end of its deliberations, Captain Cornwallis, having
summoned all those who were capable of bearing arms,
selected from among them thirty who were considered
the best marksmen, ordering that they be ready to set
sail in the Dove by daybreak on the following morning.

PREPARING FOR ACTION

143

Within another hour we who loitered about the shore
of the harbor near by, where were anchored our vessels,
could see that not •' .

only the Dove, but
two of the pinnaces,
were being made
ready for sea, and
thus we knew that
a force much larger
than those marks-
men selected by
Captain Cornwallis
would be sent
against the Kent
Islanders. Then it
was I ran with all
speed to Governor
Calvert's house, hav-
ing the good fortune
to meet my father just as he was coming out from the
council.

When I asked if he was likely to go with the company
who would punish those evil-minded Englishmen who
counted to stir up the brown men against us, he an-
swered me "Yes," adding that the time had come when
I should show myself to be a man by looking after his
affairs while he was away.

144

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

READY FOR A MAn'S DUTY

Then it was that, emboldened by the fear of parting
from him when he went into danger, I asked him to
remember that near to three years had passed since
the day when I, thirteen years old, had sailed with him
from England, and called to mind the fact that I, older
grown than then, being sixteen years of age, was come
to the time when in good truth I should do a man's
duty, instead of remaining snugly at home to be cared
for by servants.

Whereupon he asked me what was in my mind, that I
had so suddenly discovered the fact of having nearly
come to man's estate, and I told him boldly, but with

all due respect, that
■^ in this new land of

ours a lad who had
grown to sixteen
years should no
longer be counted
a child, but should
take upon himself
full duty with his elders, so that he might the better
be prepared to aid in upbuilding our province.

That he was not angered by my plain speaking, I
understood when he laid his hand affectionately on my

READY FOR A MAN'S DUTY 145

head, as he said that it would give him greatest pleasure
to keep me a child as long as might be, for when I
was come to be counted as one of those who should
do all he might toward defending our province, then
had he lost his baby, who had been of so much com-
fort to him when its mother died.

It grieves me to the heart now to remember that my
cheeks flushed red with shame when he spoke of me
as a baby, and once more I asked him to remember
my years, giving me the place which was mine by right
because of my age, no longer forcing me to feel the
disgrace of hiding behind John when there was danger
afoot.

Very much more than I have set down was said be-
tween us. All my words were to the end that I should
be allowed to perform a gentleman's duty in our prov-
ince, and his, that he would be best pleased to hold
me a child as long as he might, because of the great
love in his heart.

A kinder, more affectionate father never had lad
than had I, and when he came to understand that all
my mind was bent upon taking part in the defense
of our fair Province of Maryland, then did he give way,
the tears standing in his eyes when he clasped my
hands in his, as he said: —

''So be it, my son. You shall come into your man-
hood at the age of sixteen years, because in this new

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — lO

146 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

world of ours we age more rapidly than in England.
I will cease to look upon you as a child, and pray the
good' God that you may ever reckon upon me as a true
comrade to whom you can come in all trust with what-
soever of joy or of sorrow enters into your Hfe. Re-
member that to be a gentleman is to be one who is
honest, who is kind of heart, and who speaks no evil
of another. It is not in my power to attach you to
Captain CornwaUis's company of marksmen ; but you
shall be numbered among those who go to take such
part as may be necessary in case those islanders of
Kent are stiff-necked, and it will be well that John
accompanies you, not for protection, but to stand by
your side a comrade in arms.''

There was a great joy in my heart when my father
thus spoke, for I counted it an honor to be looked upon
as a man rather than a child, and gave little heed to
the fact, which has since come to me so strongly , that
there can be no time in life so sweet as when a lad
stands under the loving protection of his father, ready
at all times to obey, and striving never to overrun his
years.

I WEAR THE UNIFORM

On that same evening my father brought to me a
musket with the newly invented lock, a bandolier.

I WEAR THE UNIFORM

147

ornamented with Indian work of beads, and a smoke-
tanned pouch; a cartridge bag with ample supply
of ammuni-
tion ; a belt
for the hunt-
ing knife that
Jacob Savage,
the smith, had
made for me
out of a file;
and, if you
please, a uni-
form such as Captain Corn-
wallis's men wore, being
made of my Lord Baltimore's
colors.

I had not counted on so
much attention as this, and
there was a certain tugging
at my heart, as I realized
that now in good truth was
I become a man, and no longer a child who would
receive the tender care of his father.

"You are to remember, my lad," he said to me,
taking my hand in his, "that any ungentle act dis-
graces the uniform you wear, in addition to leaving
its stain upon your character. The men of our family

148 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

have always remained loyal and true, and you, being
the youngest among us, must take good care to keep
our name untarnished."

That night, instead of sharing my father's bed, I was
given a couch by myself, and it was by no means pleas-
ing, even though my vanity had been greatly stirred, to
be thus shut off from those loving privileges which were
mine before T had become a man.

It was a long hour ere I fell asleep that night, for
what with gentle grief because of thus being thrown
upon myself, as it were, and the keen desire to do some
noble deed that would bring a flush of pride to my
father's cheek, my mind was in a whirl. When finally
I closed my eyes in slumber, it was to dream of strug-
gling against overwhelming forces of Kent Islanders
who were speedily getting the better of me, much to my
sorrow and my shame.

The sun had not yet risen next morning when I was
astir in all the bravery of uniform and equipment, for-
getting the mild sorrow which had come to me the night
previous, in the pride I felt because the other lads of
St. Mary's gathered around in open-mouthed surprise
and envy to see me thus blossomed out as a Maryland
warrior.

Of the breakfast which was prepared by our Indian
women, I could scarce eat a mouthful, so excited was I,
and there were not above four or five of our people

MY NEW NAME

149

gathered on the shore ready to embark when I, with so
much of dignity as it was possible to assume, marched
gravely down to take my place among them.

MY NEW NAME

When the time came for embarking, Captain Corn-
wallis called out the names of all those who were to
take passage

m

\^

:.^^A

the Dove^ among
whom was my
father, and then
was read the list
of those who
would sail in the
pinnace which we
of St. Mary's had
built, and, if you
please. Master
who was to have com-
mand of this smaller
vessel, named me first,
calling me, from what whim I know not, Calvert of
Maryland, instead of by my family name.

It would have pleased me better had I gone forth in
this first service as one of my father's family, and yet it
was a proud title which he gave me, and I repeated it

Lewger

1^0

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

again and again to myself, saying that it stood me in
hand to do more than a soldier's duty, if I was the only
one of the company who was so closely knit to our fair
province as to be given the name.

ON BOARD THE PINNACE

John sailed in the pinnace with me ; but he was not
named as one who bore arms, even though his musket,
save for the ornaments upon its stock, was much the
same as mine.

I believed then, and do at this day, that my father gave
orders concerning his bearing toward me, now that I had,
as you might say, become a man, for he treated me as one
above him in station, instead of a child under his care, as
he had done less than four and twenty hours previous.

The voyage up the bay was not made speedily, be-
cause of the lightness of the wind. During all that day
we sailed slowly, observing with much concern small
companies of brown men on the eastern shore, who were
gathered there as if to spy upon us, and T questioned
John as to whether he believed those mutinous men of
Kent Island had already succeeded so far in stirring up
the savages, that we were likely to have them as enemies
before we returned.

Because there were no signs of enmity, save on the
eastern shore, he was of the belief that, seeing with what

INDIANS IN WAR PAINT

151

force we were coming, the brown people would think
twice before yielding to the advice of those Englishmen
who counted to take from my Lord Baltimore, by force
of arms, a portion of that land which the king had given
him.

John's opinion was not shared by all who were on
board the pinnace, and I heard, with much of inward
fear, more than one of the men give it as his belief that
there would be blood shed ere we were come again to
our town of St. Mary's.

INDIANS IN V^AR PAINT

Before nightfall, and while we were standing well in
to the eastern shore, we saw a party of Susquehanoughs
in a canoe close
under the shelter
of the land, who
wore their war
paint, which is to
say that their
faces and bodies
were covered with
lines of red and
l)lack, giving to

them a most hideous appearance, and causing much
alarm among our people, for it was seemingly good proof

152 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

that all the brown men of that tribe had risen against
us.

Master Lewger, however, perhaps only with the view
of quieting our fears, claimed that those whom we had
seen were the younger men, and mayhap had put on
the war paint without the knowledge of their chiefs.

"Whether it has been done by some of the hot-heads
among the brown men to frighten us, or whether the
whole tribe be keen for bloodshed, still must we go on,"
John said to me in a low tone, as if fearing I might show
the white feather at a time when my elders were watch-
ing closely to see how I bore myself, and I answered
him, that while my heart was faint at thought of danger,
he need feel no anxiety that I would disgrace the family
to which I belonged, or the province whose name had
been given me.

When the sun went down and night came, watches
were set and kept during all the hours of darkness, lest
an attack be made upon us. Meanwhile we carried a
light at our masthead, as did the Dove, to the end that
the vessels might not go far one from the other.

THE ARRIVAL AT KENT ISLAND

I was called upon to do full share of standing guard,
as was to be expected, and because my time of duty
ended at midnight, I yet remained m the small cabin

THE CAPTURE OF THE FORT 153

sleeping, when, just as the day broke, we came to anchor
close under the southerly end of Kent Island.

Already had our breakfast been cooked, and we were
bidden to eat quickly, that there might be no delay on
our part in the landing.

Nor did we of the pinnace keep Captain Cornwallis
waiting, for the instant the signal to go ashore was shown
from the Dove, our shallops were alongside, and we
tumbled into them.

It so chanced that when we were drawn up in line to
prepare for the work of day, my station was less than six
paces behind my father, and it is not possible for me to
say, in such words that it maybe thoroughly understood,
how much I was heartened by such close companion-
ship with him whom I loved most dearly.

As silently as might be, with no word spoken in the
line, and under orders that never a gun should be dis-
charged whatever the provocation, until due command
had been given, we marched a full mile from our place
of landing, to the palisade which William Claiborne
called his fort, arriving there without having, so far as
we knew, disturbed any of the people on the island.

THE CAPTURE OF THE FORT

Because of being the lightest in weight of the party,
Captain Cornwallis directed me to climb on his shoulder

154

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

until I could grasp the top of the logs, and then pull
myself up until it was possible to clamber over, when
I was to drop on the inside, and
unbar the gate, all of which I did
without mishap.

The Kent Islanders must have
been slothful men, for never one
was astir when we marched inside
the palisade around the house,
calling upon those within to
surrender.

As a matter of
course, this com-
mand was obeyed,
for being thus
surprised it would
have been folly for
those in the dwell-
ing to make any
resistance, and we
found on marshal-
ing our prisoners that the two men, Butler and Smith,
whom Claiborne had left in charge of the settlement
when he fled to Virginia, were at their own liomes some
distance away.

Thus far we had accomplished very little, for those
who stood shivering with fear in line, under the

BUTLER AND SMITH MADE CAPTIVES 155

muzzles of our guns, were only serving men and
laborers.

It was Butler and Smith who had, so it was claimed,
been foremost in urging the Indians to make an attack
upon us of St. Mary's, and therefore was their capture
most important.

Six of our people were left in charge of the fort, with
orders to shoot down any who should attempt to escape,
or try to force an entrance, and then the remainder of
the company, myself among them_, marched up the
island a full five miles, to where the man Butler lived.

BUTLER AND SMITH MADE CAPTIVES

Governor Calvert, although not taking upon himself
the command, since it was Captain Cornwallis's by
right, kept his place in advance of the line, much against
the wishes of our gentlemen, who claimed that he had
no right to put himself in a position of danger, since, if
anything of evil befell him, it would be worse, because
of his being at the head of the province, than if another
of our company suffered death.

But he insisted upon his right to take full share of the
peril, and if there had been any thought of faint-hearted-
ness in our minds, we must perforce have shown our-
selves all courage after such an example.

It was near to two hours before we were come to the

156

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

edge of the thicket which gave upon the clearing sur-
rounding Butler's house, and there were we halted
within shelter of the foliage, while Ensign Gierke, with

ten musketeers, was
sent forward to give
the mutineer a
chance to surrender.
And this he did
without parley, to
my mind showing
himself a coward
because of not mak-
ing some display of
force after having
openly declared liimself an
enemy to us of Maryland.

Neither the governor nor
Captain Cornwallis had any
converse with him when he
came up in charge of the
musketeers, hanging his head in shame and fear; but
word was given that he be bound securely between
two of our men, and again we took up our line of march,
this time carrying the flag of Maryland unfurled in
front of us.

Thomas Smith lived on what is known as Beaver
Neck, his house standing on that side of the creek op-

BACK TO CLAIBORNE'S FORT

157

posite Butler's, and when we were come to the shore it
was to find that a small pinnace had been brought
around to ferry us over.

Sergeant Robert Vaughan, with six musketeers, was
sent across in advance, and then we had as little diffi-
culty in making the
mutineer Smith a
prisoner, as we had
had in taking Butler.

BACK TO Claiborne's

FORT

It pleased me much
when the governor
gave orders that the
captives, in charge of
twenty of our mus-
keteers, be sent to St.
Mary's in the small
pinnace, that my ^

name was not called among those who were to go.

Therefore it was that I held my place as one of the
army when we marched back to Claiborne's fort, and
such Indian runners as had been found there were sent
off to summon all the people of the island to appear be-
fore Governor Calvert.

158

CALVERT OF MARYLAND

When we were come to the fort again, John
declared that there was nothing more for us men-at-arms
to do, save lounge around while the governor dealt out
justice to these islanders who had dared to raise their
voices against us of St. Mary's, and I was not displeased,
because of fearing that I might in some way bring
reproach upon my father and the name Calvert of
Maryland, if called upon to stand against our enemies,
although it would be contrary to my will and desires.

However, I need not have settled down to idleness
quite so soon, for we had hardly more than entered the
fort when Governor Calvert sent one of the men in
search of me, and I obeyed the summons quickly, in-
wardly quaking lest I had ignorantly done some wrong.

I AM ASSIGNED NEW DUTIES

My fears were speedily set at rest, once I was come
into the great room where he was sitting to hold court,

I AM ASSIGNED NEW DUTIES 159

for, speaking in the kindliest fashion, as if I had been
fully his equal in rank, he told me it was his desire to
make sure the Indian runners did not play him false,
as might be the case if they had listened overly long to
William Claiborne.

As a guard against this, he called upon me to take one
of the shallops, summoning two or more of the men to
work the oars, and skirt along the shores of the island to
make certain all the people had notice that the governor
was come to settle forever the question of loyalty to our
Province of Maryland.

I was to perform the task in whatsoever manner I
thought best, so that it was done properly, and to set
off without delay, sleeping wherever night overtook
me, for it would not be possible to make the voyage
completely around the island in less than two, perhaps
three, days.

You may well fancy that I was exceeding proud at
being selected for what seemed like a most important
mission, and I made no further delay in setting out than
to find my father, that I might acquaint him with my
purpose.

It can also be understood that I chose John as
one of the men to bear me company, and he
proposed that I take his cousin Jacob as the second
oarsman.

My father did not burden me with advice when I was

i6o CALVERT OF MARYLAND

come to take leave of him. He simply cautioned me
not to run needlessly into danger, nor to shirk when it
could not be avoided.

''Do not refuse to take advice from John," he said,
as we walked toward that point on the shore where lay
the shallop. "That lad, or man, who neglects to learn
from others when he may, is little less than a fool."

With these words ringing in my ears I set off, the two
men rowing lustily while I held the steering oar, and it
was in my mind that now indeed might I with good
reason be called Calvert of Maryland, since I was doing
a man's work in the protection of the province.

A NARROW ESCAPE

We did not advance swiftly, because of being forced
to stop here or there wherever we saw a dwelling, and
at such times I myself went on shore to have speech with
the settlers, rather than send either John or Jacob to
perform the task which Governor Calvert had intrusted
to me.

Before night came, my legs ached with weariness,
because of much running about on shore, and my tem-
per was sorely tried when the stupid Englishmen would
have parleyed with me concerning Governor Calvert's
right to bid them come before him for judgment.

"At the next fair dwelling place we will rest for the

A NARROW ESCAPE

i6i

night," 1 said to my companions, when I was come
from a vexing talk with a thick-headed laborer, who
would have
tried to per-
suade me
that Kent
Island be-
longed to
the Prov-
ince of Vir-
ginia rather
than to that
of Mary-
land, and,

having thus spoken, I was
on the point of stepping
aboard the shallop, when
there appeared from the
thicket close about us,
four Susquehanoughs, all
in full war paint.

I am willing to confess I was so frightened that my
heart beat as if it would burst through the flesh ; but I
made fair stand, with the hope that what was in my
mind did not show on my face, and John whispered in
a tremulous voice : —

"Do not anger them, lad, whatever may be said, and

CALVERT OF MARYLAND — 1 1

i62 CALVERT OF MARYLAND

make no show of using your weapons while they thus
have the advantage of us."

I hardly know what I might have done if he had not
spoken ; but certain it is, the words heartened me won-
derfully, and I stood as if perfectly at ease, while the
painted brown men came so near that the odor from
their bodies was most disagreeable to my nose.

When, however, he who was leader would have taken
my gun, I pulled it aw^ay from him, saying that I was
come in the service of the Governor of Maryland, who
even then was in William Claiborne's fort ready to
punish those who would have worked harm to our town
of St. Mary's, and that any wrong done me would be
reckoned as if done him.

I verily believe it was because I spoke with a bold
front, as if knowing there were those near by ready to
uphold me, that caused these evil-minded brown men
to think twice before coming to open warfare with us
of IMaryland. Even though in their war paint, which
is sign of enmity, these Susquehanoughs did not
dare lay violent hands upon me, while ignorant as to
how large a force of our people might be close by ; but
stepped back a few paces to take counsel one wath an-
other, leaving me close by the stern of the shallop.

"Now is the time when you may come aboard and
make ready to use your gun, Calvert of Maryland,"
John said, as he and Jacob took up their oars to pull

WORDS OF PRAISE 163

swiftly away, and I, made doubly bold by hearing the
name Captain Cornwallis had given me, said, as though
I were a veritable man of war : —

"We will make no show of running away. There are
but four brown men against three of us Marylanders,
and it would be shame to us if we could not hold them
in check until they shall let their intent be known."

At the same moment, however, I stepped into the
shallop, holding my gun ready for service, and before a
tongue-tied man could have counted five, the Indians
disappeared within the thicket, leaving us alone.

Then, swelling with pride because of what looked
much like a victory won by me, I gave the word for
John and Jacob to pull along shore, cautioning them
not to send the boat ahead too swiftly lest the brown
men think we were running away.

WORDS OF PRAISE

Once we were beyond arrow-shot from the land, John
thought fit to give me great praise for holding myself as
steady as a man at a time when even the bravest need
not have felt shame at being afraid ; and both he and
Jacob vowed that the matter should be known to my
advantage when we were come once more to our town
of St. Mary's.

There is no good reason why I should set down more

i64

CALVERT i OF MARYLAND

concerning this voyage when I was commander, for we
met with nothing in the way of adventure, and were

returned to William
Claiborne's fort late
in the evening of the
second day, weary
enough to fall asleep
even as we walked,
because of having
traveled all through
the night previous, in
order to make more
speedy end of our
task.

Governor Calvert
was pleased to give
me much praise be-
cause of what had been done, and bade his servant
show me to the room next his own, where I might sleep
in peace and security so long as was my pleasure.

During five days we remained at Kent Island, and
then George Evelin, who had been on a visit to Virginia,
came to find that strict justice had been done the mu-
tineers.

Those who had been found guilty of having striven to
stir up the brown men against us, meaning Butler and
Smith, were to be tried at St. Mary's for their crimes.

•ia^

WORDS OF F ^E 165

All of William Claiborne's prop^ fy that could be come
at was taken as prize of war, and by such means our
Province of Maryland was the richer by seventy thou-
sand pounds of tobacco, two hundred cattle, sixteen
servants who had yet many years to serve before they
would become freemen, together with tools and other
goods to the value, so I have heard said, of not less
than seven thousand pounds, meaning nearly thirty-
five thousand dollars, as money is now reckoned
among us.

I went back to St. Mary's in the same ship with the
governor and his gentlemen, and right proud was T
when, during the homeward voyage, my father, having
heard certain matters from John, said, as he took
me by the hands, kissing both my cheeks, that he was
well satisfied I would bring no reproach either to his
name, or to that given me by Captain Cornwallis.

And now, because I have told all of moment concern-
ing our homes in the Province of Maryland, during that
time when we were struggling to make ourselves re-
spected by the Indians as well as by the Virginians, there
is no good reason why I add more words.

We who had left England in the Dove and the A rk to
build up a province in the land given by the king to my
Lord Baltimore, had finished our task, and it is for
others to say how we prospered in later days, and how
fair was the work of our hands, after we had conquered

i66 CAL\ERT OF MARYLAND

the wilderness and eiT ^ed the respect of our neighbors
both white and brown.

That we have lived in peace these many years, is well
known to all the world, and I have fair cause to hope,
without seeming to boast, that when the full story of our
Province of Maryland shall be told, among the names
of those who had a goodly share in the building up,
will be found that of Calvert of Maryland.

JAMES OTIS'S
COLONIAL SERIES

Calvert of Maryland Richard of Jamestown

Mary of Plymouth Ruth of Boston

Peter of New Amsterdam ■ Stephen of Philadelphia

Price, each, 35 cents. For years 3-5

DON'T you remember the "Toby Tyler" stories,
which appeared some years ago in "Harper's Young
People"? And don't you remember how impatiently
boys and girls looked forward to the next issue merely be-
cause of those tales ? Stories like those mean something to
children and make an impression.

^ Here are six new stories by the same author, James Otis,
the first he has ever written for schools. They are just as fas-
cinating as his earlier ones. They are stories and yet they
are histories. Their viewpoint is entirely original, the story
of each settlement being told by one of the children living in the
colony. For this reason only such incidents as a child might
notice, or learn by hearsay, are introduced — but all such in-
cidents are, as far as possible, historical facts and together they
present a delightfully graphic and comprehensive description
of the daily life of the early colonists.

^ The style in "^ which the children tell the stories reads as
charmingly as that of a fairy tale, and abounds in quaint hu-
mor and in wholesome, old-fashioned philosophy.
^ Each book is profusely illustrated with pen and ink draw-
ings that not only add to its artistic attractiveness, but will be
found a genuine aid to the child's imagination in reproducing
for him realistic glimpses into a home-lite of long ago.
^ There is no better way for your pupils to learn about the
beginning of our country. The books are just as well suited
to libraries and home use. Write us about them.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(25)

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

By EDWARD EGGLESTON

STORIES OF GREAT AMERICANS FOR

LITTLE AMERICANS $o.^c

THIS book is eminently suited to second year pupils.
Not only does it make learning to read an easy task,
but it provides matter which is stimulating and enjoy-
able. By means of interesting personal anecdotes, the child
is made familiar with the history of our country and some of
its leading figures. Famous warrior-s and patriots, states-
men, discoverers, inventors, men of science and letters, find
a place in these tales. Some of the stories should be known
to every American, because they, have become a kind ot
national folk-lore. The words are not too difiicult, while
the sentences and paragraphs are short.

STORIES OF AMERICAN LIFE AND

ADVENTURE. . $0.50

HERE are presented for third year pupils exciting stories
which tell of the adventurous pioneer life of this
country, and which show why tlie national character
is distinguished by traits of quick-wittedness, humor, self-
reliance, love of liberty, and democratic feeling. These
historical anecdotes include stories of Indian life, of frontier
peril and escape, of adventures with the pirates of Colonial
times, of daring Revolutionary feats, of dangerous whaling
voyages, of scientific explorations, and of personal encounters
with savages and wild beasts. With them are intermingled
sketches of the homes, the food and drink, the birds and
animals, the schools, and the children's plays of other times.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(17)

HISTORICAL READERS

By H. A. GUERBER

Story of the Thirteen Colonies $°-^S

Story of the Great Republic 65

Story of the English 65

Story of Old France 65

Story of Modern France 65

Story of the Chosen People 60

Story of the Greeks .60

Story of the Romans .60

A LTHOUGH these popular books are intended primarily
_/X. for supplementary reading, they will be found quite as
valuable in adding life and interest to the formal study
of history. Beginning with the fifth school year, they can be
used with profit in any of the upper grammar grades.
^ In these volumes the history ot some of the world's peoples
has taken the form of stories in which the principal events are
centered about the lives of great men of all times. Through-
out the attempt has been made to give in simple, forceful lan-
guage an authentic account of famous deeds, and to present a
stirring and lifelike picture of life and customs. Strictly mili-
tary and political history have never been emphasized.
^ No pains has been spared to interest boys and girls, to
impart usefiil information, and to provide valuable lessons of
patriotism, truthfulness, courage, patience, honesty, and in-
dustry, which will make them good men and women. Many
incidents and anecdotes, not included in larger works, are
interspersed among the stories, because they are so frequently
used in art and literature that familiarity with them is in-
dispensable. The illustrations are unusually good.
^y The author's Myths of Greece and Rome, Myths of
Northern Lands, and Legends of the Middle Ages, each,
price ^1.50, present a fascinating account of those wonderful
legends and tales of mythology which should be known to
everyone. Seventh and eighth year pupils will delight in them.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
08:>

North America
South America

. ^0.60
.60

Europe .
Asia

.70
.60

CARPENTER'S READERS

Bv FRANK G. CARPENTER

GEOGRAPHICAL READERS

Africa . . . . ^0.60

Australia, Our Colonies,
and Other Islands of the
Sea .... .60

READERS ON COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

How the World is Fed . ^0.60 | How the World is Clothed, $0.60

How the World is Housed, $0.60

CARPENTER'S Geographical Readers supplement the
regular textbooks on the subject, giving lite and interest
to the study. They are intensely absorbing, being
written by the author on the spots described, and presenting
accurate pen-pictures of places and peoples. The style is
simple and easy, and throughout each volume there runs a
strong personal note which makes the reader feel that he is
actually seeing everything with his own eyes.
^ The books give a good idea of the various peoples, their
strange customs and ways of living, and to some extent of their
economic conditions. At the same time, there are included
graphic descriptions of the curious animals, rare birds, wonder-
ful physical features, natural resources, and great industries of
each country. The illustrations for the most part are repro-
ductions of photographs taken by the author. The maps show
the route taken over each continent.

^ The Readers on Commerce and Industry take up the
three great essentials of human existence, food, clothing, and
shelter. The children visit the great food centers and see
for themselves how the chief food staples are produced and
prepared for use, they travel over the globe investigating the
sources of their clothing, and they learn how the different races
are housed, and of what their dwellings are composed. The
journeys are along geographical lines.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

BALDWIN AND BENDER'S
READERS

Reading with Expression

By JAMES BALDWIN, Author of Baldwin's School Read-
ers, Harper's Readers, etc. and IDA C. BENDER,
Supervisor of Primary Grades, Buffalo, New York.

AN EIGHT BOOK SERIES or A FIVE BOOK SERIES

THE authorship of this series is conclusive evidence of
its rare worth, of its happy union of the ideal and the
practical. The chief design of the books is to help pupils
to acquire the art and habit of reading so well as to give pleas-
ure both to themselves and to those who listen to them. They
teach reading with expression, and the selections have, to a
large extent, been chosen for this purpose.
<^[ These readers are very teachable and readable, and are un-
usually interesting both in selections and in illustrations. The
selections are of a very high literary quality. Besides the
choicest schoolbook classics, there are a large number which
have never before appeared in school readers. The contents
are well balanced between prose and poetry, and the subject
matter is unusually varied. Beginning with the Third Reader,
selections relating to similar subjects or requiring similar
methods of study or recitation, are grouped together. Many
selections are in dialogue form and suitable for dramatization.
<^[ The First Reader may be used with any method of teach-
ing reading, for it combines the best ideas of each. A number
of helpful new features are also included. Each reading lesson
is on a right-hand page, and is approached by a series of pre-
paratory exercises on the preceding left-hand page.
^ The illustrations constitute the finest and most attractive
collection ever brought together in a series of readers. There
are over 600 in all, every one made especially for these books
by an artist of national reputation.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(5)

HIC KS'S CHAMPION
SPELLING BOOK

By WARREN E. HICKS, Assistant Superintendent of
Schools, Cleveland, Ohio

Complete, ^0.25 - Part One, ^0.18 - Part Two, $0.18

THIS book embodies the method that enabled the pupils
in the Cleveland schools after two years to win the Na-
tional Education Association Spelling Contest of 1908.
^ By this method a spelling lesson of ten words is given each
day from the spoken vocabulary of the pupil. Of these ten
words two are selected for intensive study, and in the spelling
book are made prominent in both position and type at the head
of each day's lessons, these two words being followed by the
remaining eight words in smaller type. Systematic review is
provided throughout the book. Each of the ten prominent
words taught intensively in a week is listed as a subordinate
word in the next two weeks; included in a written spelling
contest at the end of eight weeks; again in the annual contest
at the end of the year ; and again as a subordinate word in the
following year's work; — used five times in all within two
years.

^ The Champion Spelling Book consists of a series of lessons
arranged as above for six school years, from the third to the
eighth, inclusive. It presents about 1,200 words each year,
and teaches 3 i 2 of them with especial clearness and intensity.
It also includes occasional supplementary exercises which serve
as aids in teaching sounds, vowels, homonyms, rules of spell-
ing, abbreviated forms, suffixes, prefixes, the use of hyphens,
plurals, dictation work, and word building. The words have
been selected from lists, supplied by grade teachers of Cleve-
land schools, of words ordinarily misspelled by the pupils of
their respective grades.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(36)

STEADMANS' WRITING

By ANDREW H. STEADMAN, Supervisor of Penmanship, Cincinnati
Public Schools, and CARRIE D. STEADMAN, formerly Assistant
Supervisor of Penmanship.

8 Pads . . Each, 15 cents Chart. In Five Sheets, . $1.50

STEADMANS' Graded Lessons in Writing train the
child to maintain a truly healthful position, and to use
the large muscles of the upper arm and shoulder as the
motive power in writing. As the ability to write automatic-
ally is acquired, a correct sitting habit is inculcated; stoop-
ing over the desk, cramping the lung space, bringing the eyes
so close to the paper that they are permanently injured, be-
come impossible. The child is no longer subjected to the
harmful tendencies of former days.

^This system teaches the child to write a good, characteristic
hand that will remain with him through life. The course is
presented in eight pads. Each pad is a complete cycle,
covering the work for an entire year, and containing forty
sheets, eighty pages, three and one-third times as much as
a copybook. Each page presents a central idea, around
which the lesson is constructed. The drills constitute a ser-
ies of graded, specialized, physical culture exercises. These
exercises are so devised and arranged that the pupils are led,
by easy gradations, from the simplest forms and letters to the
more complex. Each drill is based upon the movement re-
quired to form the letter or letters under consideration dunng
that particular writing lesson.

^The work is simplicity itself. It teaches an easy, graceful
style of free handwriting with full play for the writer's indi-
viduality. It requires no extra exercise books, no teacher's
manual, no blank pads, and no additional paper. Any teacher
can teach it with ease without further assistance, and any
child will find no difficulty in performing it s.uccessfully, and
in acquiring a handwriting that is legible, rapid, and automatic.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

HAMILTON'S ARITHMETICS

By SAMUEL HAMILTON, Ph. D., Superintendent of
Schools, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

THREE-BOOK SERIES
Primary Arithmetic .... $0.35
Intermediate Arithmetic . . .40
School Arithmetic 45

TWO-BOOK SERIES
Elementary .Arithmetic . . $0.35
Complete Arithmetic ... .60

ALTHOUGH these arithmetics are intended to be
placed in the pupil's hands beginning with the
third year, the oral work of the first two years
is carefully developed in each series as a guide to the
teacher. The plan agrees with present pedagogical ideas
of teaching arithmetic, an easy treatment of each subject
in the earlier years being provided before the complete
treatment.

^ In the earlier books, the subject-matter has been separated
into two parts, and treated topically. In the later books
the year has been made the unit of division, and here the
treatment is also topical. Besides the two treatments of
topics, the work is distinguished by the emphasis on oral
drill, the number and variety of problems, the emphasis on
business arithmetic, the systematic reviews, and the easy
steps in gradation.

^ These books possess an unusual adaptability to the varying
conditions in schools. The three-book series enables bright
pupils to be promoted from the fourth year's work to the
sixth year's work, or from the fiffh year's work to the
seventh year's work without omitting the study of any im-
portant topic, and thus complete an eight years' course in
seven years. The two-book series permit bright pupils
to finish the first five years' work in four years, and be
promoted from the fourth year's work to the sixth year's
work, and thus complete an eight years' course in seven
years.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(51)

MAXWELL'S
NEW GRAMMARS

By WILLIAM H. MAXWELL, Ph.D., LL.D.

Superintendent of Schools, City of New York

Elementary Grammar . . $0.40

School Grammar . . ^0.60

THE ELEMENTARY GRAMMAR presents in very
small space all the grammar usually taught in elemen-
tary schools.
•|[ It gives the pupil an insight into the general forms in which
thought is expressed, and enables him to see the meaning of
complicated sentences. The explanatory matter is made
clear by the use of simple language, by the elimination of
unnecessary technical terms, and by the frequent introduction
of illustrative sentences. The definitions are simple and pre-
cise. The exercises are abundant and peculiarly ingenious.
A novel device for parsing and analysis permits these two
subjects to be combined in one exercise lor purposes of drill.
^The SCHOOL GRAMMAR contains everything needed
by students in upper grammar grades and secondary schools.
It covers fully the requirements of the Syllabus in English
issued by the New York State Education Department.
^ The book treats of grammar only, and presents many
exercises which call for considerable reflection on the mean-
ing of the expressions to be analyzed. Throughout, stress
is laid on the broader distinctions of thought and expression.
The common errors of written and spoken language are so
classified as to make it comparatively easy for pupils to
detect and correct them through the application of the rules
of grammar. The book ends with an historical sketch of
the English language, an article on the formation of words,
and a list of equivalent terms employed by other grammari-
ans. The full index makes the volume useful for reference.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(7S)

MORTON'S GEOGRAPHIES

By ELIZA H. MORTON, Member of the National
Geographic Society

Elementary Geography . ^0.55

Advanced Geography . . ^1.20

A CLEAR and logical presentation of the great known facts
of the material world affecting man as its principal in-
habitant. The books are written in a simple, direct
style, easily read and comprehended by pupils. The treat-
ment is well-proportioned, and the information is accurate.
Enough descriptive matter has been woven into the text to
make the study vivid and interesdng, and to create a deep
and lasting impression on the pupil's mind. In presenting the
geography of each country, the order oi' study is uniformly :
position, extent, and outline; surface and drainage; climate;
vegetation; animal life ; minerals; people.
^ Many original devices are used, in order to present
graphically the important facts which every child ought to
know. These embrace diagrams showing the comparative
sizes of the grand divisions and of the oceans in square miles ;
sketch maps showing the rainfall of the earth, the prevailing
winds, ocean currents, isotherms, location of volcanoes,
distribution of vegetadon, where cotton and wheat grow,
distribution of the races, and density of population ; and
graphic representations of the ratio of the important pro-
ductions of the United States to those of the rest of the world.
^ A miniature sketch map of the United States is given in
connection with the large study map of each section of our
country, thus affording a correct idea of the size of the
section under consideradon. The maps are conspicuous
for their beauty and distinctness, and every place given can
be found at once without difficulty. The illustrations are
unusually artistic and attractive, and are so placed as not to
interfere with the condnuity of the text.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(108)

'•.-!;/-